Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir

English Íris Björk Gunnarsdóttir is a lyric soprano from Skagafjörður in Northern Iceland. She studied at the Iceland University of the Arts, the Academy of Opera in Stockholm and the Academy of Opera in Oslo, from where she graduated with a masters degree in 2023. She is currently one of the talents of the newly started Voksenåsen Talent Program. In the season of 23/24 Íris Björk was a Young Artist at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet and sang the roles of Annina in La Traviata, Diana in Orfeus in the Underworld, Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and Sœur Mathilde in Dialogues des Carmélites.

During her studies she sang the roles of Governess in Turn of the Screw, Mimì in La Bohème, Nedda in Pagliacci, Lauretta and Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Alice in Falstaff, Sandrina in La finta giardinera and Gertrude Stein in 27. She sang the role of the Black queen in the world premiere of Alice in Wonderland by John Speight in Reykjavík in 2021.

In the 24/25 season, she will perform the role of Sylva in Die Csárdásfürstin in Bodø and Tromsø. Additionally, she will serve as a Singer in Residence at the Reykjavík Opera Festival. In the spring she will be a soloist in the world premiere of the new opera Fønix by Stian Westerhus and Lisa Lie at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet.

Íris Björk is especially interested in contemporary opera and has a big passion for telling stories that are thought-provoking and leave an impact on the audience. She regularly sings at concerts and oratorios in Norway and Iceland.