Isa Katharina Gericke, Soprano
"Don't ask what the world needs,
but instead what makes your heart sing.
Because what the world needs,
is people with singing hearts"
[Margareta Melin]
As a soloist, Isa has performed with The Oslo Philharmonic, The BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Tsjeck Philharmonic and The Stavanger Symfonic Orchestra. Conductors she has worked with include Sir Andrew Davies, Manfred Honneck, Friedrich Haider, Philippe Auguin and Philipe Herreweghe.
| Listen to 'Gute Nacht', op.25, no.3
[Halfdan Kjerulf, 1815-1868] from my CD 'Waldabendlust'
Buy the CD [Grappa website] |
Isa was educated at Norges Musikkhøgskole in Oslo and Hochschule der Künste in Berlin, then in May 2001 she won the first prize in the national part of the 'Queen Sonja' competition in Oslo/Trondheim. The following year she went on to win the 'Newcomer of the Year' prize at the Kissinger-Sommer Festival in Bad Kissingen, Germany. In the Autumn of 2003 she made her debut at the Norwegian Opera as 'Gretel' in the opera 'Hänsel and Gretel' by Humperdinck.
In 2008 Isa performed the role of 'Euridice' in 'Orfeo' by Monteverdi during the opening season of Oslo's wonderful new opera house, and in October she gave a recital at London's Wigmore Hall.
Isa is very interested in the songs of the Norwegian Romance Tradition, the Norwegian equivalent of the German Lied, and her research in this area led to her 2003 recording of 'Waldabendlust', a recording which has aroused considerable interest and critical acclaim. In a forthcoming CD to be released by Naxos Isa sings the role of 'Solveig' in Grieg's 'Peer Gynt'.
Isa is also a driving force behind the newly established Oslo Baroque Opera, while her creativity also finds an outlet in her work as Artistic Director of Glogerfestspillene, a chamber music festival which takes place every January in Kongsberg, Norway.