045 - Embracing the Unknown

Today I am talking to soprano Henriikka Gröndahl. In our chat we discuss how career trajectories can change over time and the possible influence of relationships and parenthood on negotiating a singing career. Henriikka Gröndahl is a versatile lyric soprano with one foot firmly in the chorus of the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, and the other foot happily freelancing. 

Her career began with a boom at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow in 2004, when she stepped in as the cover of Mimì in La Bohème. She sang a total of 11 performances of it for Scottish Opera – both at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow and at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. During her first years out of college, she also sang Pamina for British Youth Opera and Papagena (covering Pamina) for Garsington Opera, followed by a Pamina , Nannetta, Musetta and Julia at Gothenburg Opera in Sweden, Musetta and Princesse at the Royal Opera in Sweden and Fünfte Magd at Liceu in Barcelona, Fiordiligi for Samling Opera and Donna Elvira at Scottish Opera. She has since then stepped in at short notice to sing Liù at Gothenburg opera, Jorun at Vadstena Summer Academy and Olympia/Giulietta/Antonia/ at Folkoperan, where she later also performed Liù. Her latest role was Euredice (Gluck) at Norrlandsoperan, as well as small obscure solo bits and pieces at the Royal Opera in Stockholm.

Her career has led her to sing in many countries around Europe, and she frequently performs at chamber music festivals and oratorios, but is nowadays also old enough to engage in other non music related activities like hiking, paddling, hanging out with friends and family, painting, throwing dinner parties and passionately enjoying life!

www.henriikkagrondahl.com