Knut Skram
Encyclopedia
Knut Skram is a Norwegian baritone
. Considered one of the most important Norwegian opera singers of his generation, his career has spanned more than four decades.
in western Norway, Skram was one of the six children of Kari Totland and Asbjørn Skram, a pastor
. When he was 19, he went to the United States to work on his uncle's ranch in Montana
for a year. He then trained as an architect at Montana State University and concurrently studied singing there with the lyric baritone George Buckbee. In the summer before his final year at university he sang with Chautauqua Opera Company
and a few months later won the Spokane
district Metropolitan Opera Auditions for the second time. After a brief stint working as an architect in New York City, he returned to Norway to pursue his singing career. In 1964, following further singing study with Paul Lohmann in Wiesbaden
and Luigi Ricci
in Rome, he made his official stage debut as Amonasro in Aida
at the Norwegian National Opera. He went on to sing a wide range of baritone roles both internationally and in his native country where he was member of the Norwegian National Opera for 36 years.
Skram's international appearances have included Spoleto Festival USA
where he sang Amfortas in a production of Parsifal
directed by Gian Carlo Menotti
(1990) and Orestes in Elecktra
(1992); Glyndebourne Festival Opera
where he apeared for nine seasons, most notably as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte
and Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro
; and the Berlin State Opera
where he sang several Wagnerian roles. He has also appeared at London's Royal Albert Hall
, the Opéra-Comique
in Paris, Arena di Verona
, La Monnaie
in Brussels, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival
. Skram officially retired from the Norwegian National Opera in 2000 with a farewell performance as Baron Scarpia in Tosca
. However, he has continued to perform occasionally both in concerts and on the opera stage. In May 2011 more than forty years after his debut, he sang the role of Creon in Stravinsky's opera
-oratorio
Oedipus Rex
at the Bergen International Festival
.
In 1984 Skram was awarded Norway's Knight of the Order of St. Olav and in 2001 the Anders Jahre
s Kulturpris for outstanding contribution to Norwegian culture. He was Chairman of the Norwegian Opera Singer Association from 1979 to 1983 and served on the Board of Directors of the Norwegian National Opera from 2001 to 2008. He was a member of the jury which selected the design for the new Oslo Opera House
and participated in the opening concerts in April 2008. Skram has been married to the dancer Hanne (Thorstensen) Skram since 1966.
's song cycle Dichterliebe
with pianist Robert Levin
. Skram can also be heard on:
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
. Considered one of the most important Norwegian opera singers of his generation, his career has spanned more than four decades.
Life and career
Born in the village of SæbøSæbø, Møre og Romsdal
Sæbø is a village in the municipality of Ørsta in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the Hjørundfjorden in the Bondalen valley. It is about north of the mountain Skårasalen...
in western Norway, Skram was one of the six children of Kari Totland and Asbjørn Skram, a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
. When he was 19, he went to the United States to work on his uncle's ranch in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
for a year. He then trained as an architect at Montana State University and concurrently studied singing there with the lyric baritone George Buckbee. In the summer before his final year at university he sang with Chautauqua Opera Company
Chautauqua Opera
The Chautauqua Opera is the resident summer opera company of the Chautauqua Institution. It is the oldest continuously active summer opera company in the U.S, having been founded in 1929, and it has produced several operas during the Institution's nine-week summer season every year since...
and a few months later won the Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
district Metropolitan Opera Auditions for the second time. After a brief stint working as an architect in New York City, he returned to Norway to pursue his singing career. In 1964, following further singing study with Paul Lohmann in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
and Luigi Ricci
Luigi Ricci (vocal coach)
Luigi Ricci was an Italian assistant conductor, accompanist, vocal coach, and author.-Career:Luigi Ricci began studying music as a child, and at the age of only twelve, started accompanying voice lessons given by the famous baritone...
in Rome, he made his official stage debut as Amonasro in Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
at the Norwegian National Opera. He went on to sing a wide range of baritone roles both internationally and in his native country where he was member of the Norwegian National Opera for 36 years.
Skram's international appearances have included Spoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the world's major performing arts festivals. It was founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti, who sought to establish a counterpart to the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy...
where he sang Amfortas in a production of Parsifal
Parsifal
Parsifal is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. It is loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, the 13th century epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival and his quest for the Holy Grail, and on Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail.Wagner first conceived the work...
directed by Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti was an Italian-American composer and librettist. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept his Italian citizenship. He wrote the classic Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, among about two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular...
(1990) and Orestes in Elecktra
Elektra (opera)
Elektra is a one-act opera by Richard Strauss, to a German-language libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, which he adapted from his 1903 drama Elektra. The opera was the first of many collaborations between Strauss and Hofmannsthal...
(1992); Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an English opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England.-History:...
where he apeared for nine seasons, most notably as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....
and Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro
Le nozze di Figaro, ossia la folle giornata , K. 492, is an opera buffa composed in 1786 in four acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro .Although the play by...
; and the Berlin State Opera
Berlin State Opera
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden is a German opera company. Its permanent home is the opera house on the Unter den Linden boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin, which also hosts the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra.-Early years:...
where he sang several Wagnerian roles. He has also appeared at London's Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
in Paris, Arena di Verona
Arena di Verona Festival
The Arena di Verona Festival is a summer festival of opera, located in the city of Verona Italy. Since 1936, it has been organized under the auspices of an official body, first the Ente Autonomo Spettacoli Lirici Arena di Verona, , and then, following legislation in 1996 and...
, La Monnaie
La Monnaie
Le Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie , or the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg is a theatre in Brussels, Belgium....
in Brussels, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival
Aix-en-Provence Festival
The festival international d'art lyrique is an annual international music festival which takes place each summer in Aix-en-Provence, principally in the month of July. Devoted mainly to opera, it also includes concerts of orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo instrumental music.-Establishment:The...
. Skram officially retired from the Norwegian National Opera in 2000 with a farewell performance as Baron Scarpia in Tosca
Tosca
Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900...
. However, he has continued to perform occasionally both in concerts and on the opera stage. In May 2011 more than forty years after his debut, he sang the role of Creon in Stravinsky's opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
-oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
Oedipus Rex
Oedipus rex (opera)
Oedipus rex is an "Opera-oratorio after Sophocles" by Igor Stravinsky, scored for orchestra, speaker, soloists, and male chorus. The libretto, based on Sophocles's tragedy, was written by Jean Cocteau in French and then translated by Abbé Jean Daniélou into Latin...
at the Bergen International Festival
Bergen International Festival
Bergen International Festival is an annual international music and cultural festival in Bergen, Norway. The festival is the largest in the Nordic countries in its genre and has a large number of activities in music, dance, literature, visual arts, folklore etc...
.
In 1984 Skram was awarded Norway's Knight of the Order of St. Olav and in 2001 the Anders Jahre
Anders Jahre
Anders August Jahre was a Norwegian shipping magnate. Jahre was educated in law, and worked as a lawyer in Sandefjord from 1916 until 1928. Meanwhile he was also involved in the whaling industry, and he founded the whaling company A/S Kosmos in 1928, operating out of Sandefjord...
s Kulturpris for outstanding contribution to Norwegian culture. He was Chairman of the Norwegian Opera Singer Association from 1979 to 1983 and served on the Board of Directors of the Norwegian National Opera from 2001 to 2008. He was a member of the jury which selected the design for the new Oslo Opera House
Oslo Opera House
The Oslo Opera House is the home of The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the national opera theatre in Norway. The building is situated in the Bjørvika neighborhood of central Oslo, at the head of the Oslofjord. It is operated by Statsbygg, the government agency which manages property for...
and participated in the opening concerts in April 2008. Skram has been married to the dancer Hanne (Thorstensen) Skram since 1966.
Recordings
In 2008, the Norwegian record company Simax issued a CD of Skram's live concert recordings spanning a 25 year period of his career, Knut Skram - Concert Recordings (Simax PSC 1804), which includes opera arias as well as a complete performance of Robert SchumannRobert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
's song cycle Dichterliebe
Dichterliebe
Dichterliebe, 'The Poet's Love' , is the best-known song cycle of Robert Schumann . The texts for the 16 songs come from the Lyrisches Intermezzo of Heinrich Heine, composed 1822–1823, published as part of the poet's Das Buch der Lieder. Following the song-cycles of Franz Schubert , those of...
with pianist Robert Levin
Robert Levin (Norwegian pianist)
Robert Levin was a Norwegian classical pianist and composer. Although he was an accomplished solo pianist and composer in his own right, Levin received international acclaim for his work as an accompanist with several of the world's most celebrated vocal and instrumental...
. Skram can also be heard on:
- Grieg: Complete Songs – Knut Skram, Christa Pfeiler, Kjell Magnus Sandve, Rudolf Jansen, Marianne Hirsti. Label: Brilliant Classics CD 93803
- Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro – Kiri Te KanawaKiri Te KanawaDame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
(Countess Almaviva), Benjamin LuxonBenjamin LuxonBenjamin Matthew Luxon CBE is a retired British baritone.-Biography:He studied with Walter Grünner at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and established an international reputation as a singer when he won a third prize at the 1961 ARD International Music Competition in Munich...
(Count Almaviva), Ileana CotrubasIleana CotrubasIleana Cotrubaş is a Romanian opera soprano whose career spanned from the 1960s to the 1980s. She was much admired for her acting skills and facility for singing opera in many different languages.-Biography:...
(Susanna), Kurt Skram (Figaro), Frederica Von StadeFrederica von StadeFrederica von Stade is an American mezzo-soprano. Born in Somerville, New Jersey, she acquired the nickname "Flicka" in her childhood. Von Stade attended the Mannes College of Music in New York City. She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1970 and in 1971 appeared as Cherubino in The...
(Cherubino); The London Philharmonic Orchestra, John Pritchard (conductor). Filmed live at the 1973 Glyndebourne Festival. Label: Arthaus Musik DVD 101089 - StraussRichard StraussRichard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
: Der Krämerspiegel Op. 66 – Knut Skram (baritone), Eva Knardahl (piano). Label: Bis CD 49
External links
- Biography on Simax Records