Selma Gudmundsdottir
Nach dem Erhalt ihres Solisten-Diploms in Reykjavik vertiefte Selma Gudmundsdottir ihre Fertigkeiten am Mozarteum in Salzburg und als Stipendiatin des DAAD bei Prof. Leygraf an der Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover. Ihr Mentor, Hans Leygraf, würdigte ihre herausragenden Fähigkeiten mit den Worten: "Selma Gudmundsdottir hat eine sensible Musikalität, ein Gespür für schönen Klang und ein Interpretationstalent in einem ganz eigenen Stil."
Selma Gudmundsdottir nahm auch an Meisterkursen von Pierre Sancan in Nizza und Frantisek Rauch in Prag teil, wobei letzterer über sie sagte: "Ihre sehr reizvolle Interpretation vieler Karnevalsstücke Schumanns werde ich nicht so schnell vergessen. Auch andere Werke interpretiert sie sehr schön und immer mit einem persönlichen Gefühl."
Ihr Debüt als Konzertpianistin in Island erntete enthusiastische Kritiken, wie H. Haraldsson schrieb: "Ihr Debüt als Konzertpianistin war in der Tat brilliant. Ihre Interpretation von Schuberts Sonata in a-moll op. 143 hatte alle Kennzeichen von Ihrem persönlichen Stil."
Selma Gudmundsdottir, die als Solistin zahlreiche Konzerte im In- und Ausland gab, erhielt besonders lobende Worte in Schweden: "In Schuberts Moments Musicaux zeigte sie in einer einfühlsamen Interpretation ihr Gespür für das Romantische."
Als Mitglied des Reykjavík Kammerorchesters tritt Selma regelmäßig auf und hegt eine besondere Leidenschaft für Kammermusik. Ihre Zusammenarbeit mit Soloinstrumentalisten und Sängern führte zu erfolgreichen Konzerttourneen in Europa, den USA und China. Zahlreiche CDs und Aufnahmen für Radio und Fernsehen dokumentieren ihre künstlerische Vielseitigkeit.
Für ihren beeindruckenden Auftritt mit Aram Khachaturians Klavierkonzert mit dem Island Sinfonieorchester erhielt sie hochlobende Kritiken, die ihre Meisterschaft und ihr tiefes Verständnis für die Musik unterstreichen. Selma Gudmundsdottir bleibt eine fesselnde Persönlichkeit auf der internationalen Bühne der klassischen Musik.
Born in Isafjordur in the North-West of Iceland, Selma Gudmundsdottir began with her piano studies 7 years old, with her father. On obtaining her soloist's diploma from Reykjavik College of Music, she started her postgraduate studies with Prof. Hans Leygraf at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and, on being awarded a two year DAAD scholarship, she continued her studies with Prof. Leygraf at the Academy of Music and Drama in Hannover. Professor Leygraf gave her the comment:
„S.G. has a sensitive musicality, a feeling for beautiful sound and a talent for interpretation in a style very much her own.“
Selma also took part in Master classes for among others Pierre Sancan in Nice and Frantisek Rauch in Prague. Frantisek Rauch said about her:
„I shall not easily forget her very charming interpretation of many of Schumann‘s Carnaval pieces. Other works she also interpretes very beautifully and always with a personal touch.“
After her debut concert in Reykjavik Halldor Haraldsson wrote:
“S.G’s debut as a concert pianist was indeed brilliant. Her interpretation of Schubert’s Sonata in A-minor op.143 had all the hallmarks of her distinctive style. She has a fine lyrical sense combined with a very beautiful touch. Her temperament helps her in creating dramatic tension but she remains in control and never fails to give a balanced performance, showing a deep understanding for the overall structure of each composition.”
Since her debut as soloist, SG has given many concerts in Iceland and abroad. In Sweden Rune Wallberg wrote about her solo recital:
“In Schubert’s Moments Musicaux she showed her flair for the romantic in a sensitive Interpretation. She gave a brilliant performance in Chopin’s Sonata in B-flat minor, with its swelling sound and tempestouos outbursts reflecting the composer’s troubled mood. The many technical difficulties of the piece with its virtuoso passages demonstrated her mastery.”
Selma has appeared in concerts in many European Countries, the Nordic countries, Germany, England, Holland, France, Austria, to name but a few, as well as in USA and China, as soloist, with orchestras and in chamber music. She was a member of Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra for years. Selma has recorded several CDs and also made many recordings for Icelandic Radio and Television.
For her performance of Khatchaturian‘s piano concerto with Icelandic Symphony Orchestra she became the following critic:
„Khachaturian‘s piano concerto is full of complications, both technically and in interpretation. S.G. sailed through them all with complete mastery and also managed to avoid any trace of sentimentality. A splendid achievement.“- Leifur Thorarinsson
„Not only did she play the Khachaturian concerto with great technical assurance, but also enriched it with the beauty of poetic imagery and rhythmical precision.“ -Jon Asgeirsson
Selma has worked for many years as a teacher and an accompanist at the Icelandic Academy of Arts and other schools in Iceland. She was the President of the Icelandic Soloists’ Association from 1988 to 1992, a board member of the Reykjavik Art Festival from 1990 to 1995 and, on behalf of the Festival, in charge of the cooperation with the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth for the shortened version of Der Ring des Nibelungen at the National Theatre in Iceland in 1994. She is one of the founders or the Richard Wagner Society in Iceland and its president since the beginning in 1995. Since 2014 she is a board member of the International Association of Richard Wagner Societies!