Gustav Johansson is a Swedish bass (b. 1995) from Stockholm. He graduated from the Royal Danish Opera Academy with a Masters degree in June 2021 portraying the roles of Masetto and Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni by Mozart. 

He is since 2016 living in Copenhagen where he 2019 received his Bachelor grade from the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Marianne Rørholm, and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, with Prof. Petteri Salomaa. Previous studies were made at Vadstena Folkhögskola with Anders Düring, and Södra Latins Gymnasium with Ove Pettersson.

He has taken part of masterclasses with renowned singers and artists such as Prof. Em. Dorothy Irving, Torbjörn Liljeqvist, Helmut Deutsch, Bo Skovhus, Konrad Jarnot, Kristian Attila, Susanna Eken, Randi Stene, Michael Eliasen and Neville Dove. 

Other teachers and musical role models that Gustav studied and worked with includes  Ebbe Knudsen, Natascha Metherell, Palle Knudsen, Bjarte Engeset, Ylva Kihlberg, David Björkman, David Kempster, Ann Crosset, Monica Thomasson, Erik Karlberg, Thomas Darelius, Jakob Lorentzen, Filip Hamber, Joakim Bergdahl, and Markus Lehtonen.

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The season 22/23 started with Gustav's orchestral debut as he sang in "Musik I sommarkväll" together with Maestra Gabriella Teychenné and Norrköpings Symphonic Orchestra in De Geerhallen in Norrköping. In October he will produce and perform in LiederFest22, in Ansgar's Kirke in Copenhagen, a classical song festival with focus on young singers and pianists and where the artists themselves are involved in the repertoire and on how to present the music to the audience. In November, Gustav returns to Søholm Opera for their production of Gian Carlo Menotti's Christmas opera Amahl and the Night visitors. He will also return to the Royal Danish Opera House to sing the part of Uno Spirito in Claudio Monteverdi's L'Orfeo. The season also includes various concerts in Copenhagen and the south of Sweden.

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In the season 21/22 he debuted at the Royal Danish Opera House where he sang three small parts in The Nose by Shostakovich. He also performed at Aalborg Operafestival in a praised performance of Peter Maxwell Davies' music theatre piece Eight Songs for a Mad King, which got top reviews in local danish newspaper. He also played the role of Councilman in Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's acclaimed adaptation of the Lars von Trier film Breaking the Waves' scandinavian premiere in Vadstena-Akademien. In the fall of 2021 he was part of Stille Slag by Louise Alenius and Tanja Diers at Østerbro Teater, a piece where former criminals and singers met on stage in a play, portraying the inner life a convict. In February 2022 he wrote, produced and performed in Fredmans Kærlighed, a play based on the music by the swedish 1800th century troubadour Carl Michael Bellman.

Gustav made his debut as Collatinus in Benjamin Brittens The Rape of Lucretia at the Helsinki Music Centre (Finland) in November 2018.  In the season of  2020/2021 he was supposed to sing the roles of 2nd Graalsritter in Parsifal by Wagner and A man with a cornet case, from Dominick Argento’s Postcard from Morocco, at the Royal Danish Opera House, but both of these shows were canceled due to the corona pandemic. Other experience from Royal Danish Opera House includes covering the parts of Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte) and En Vægter (Maskarade).

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Gustav has recieved scholarships from Sandrews Stiftelse, Den Bøhmske Fond and Helge Ax-sons fond. Projects of which he has been in charge has received financial support from Augustinus fonden, William Demant fonden, Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens fond, Copenhagen Municipality, Korsangernes fællesråd and Knud Højgaards fond.

REVIEWS

Musik i sommarkväll med Norrköpings Symfoniorkester - 26/8-2022

De Geerhallen, Norrköping 

”Med Mozarts ’Trollflöjten’ bjuds vi på Gustav Johanssons varma, milda basröst och därpå duetten mellan Masetto och Zerlina från Don Giovanni. Paret utrycker hela operans gäckande och skojfriska karaktär i ett kort utdrag”…

…”Med känsla och tydlig diktion artikulerar han den brutala om än romantiserade historien om de svarta bomullsplockarnas hårda liv medan Mississippi obekymrat rinner vidare genom rasism och fattigdom. Avslutningsvis Rossinis ”Italienskan i Alger” Nu flödar den sceniska och lite burleska humorn mellan Huledal och Johansson. Det är balanserat och samsjunget, känns spontant och muntert.”

• Norrköpings Tidningar 

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Eight Songs for a Mad King - 13/8-2022

Spritten, Aalborg Operafestival

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

”første halvdel af aftenens avantgarde program var en uropførelse af Connor McLeans Swallowing my teeth, der starter som en spinkel stemme på balkonen, med uendeligt lange toner, afsluttet med en tekst-bid som først kommer frem når Gustav Johannson ikke kan holde tonen længere. Kort sagt på det tidspunkt hvor han ikke længere har noget luft tilbage, men alligevel formår at støde ordene ud. Og det er ingen tilfældighed at det er den svenske bas der synger partiet, for netop disse evner er grunden til at Connor McLeans værk er tilegnet Gustav Johannson. Og med den smukkeste efterklang i Sprittens Brænderitårn, Bliver McLeans værk - om tidspunktet hvor man er halvvågen, og desperat forsøger at slippe ud af et mareridt - leveret af Gustav Johansson som aftenens første store præstation i Aalborg Operafestivals midnats arrangement.”…

…“Gustav Johanssons evne til at fange sit publikum er en gave, for det er ikke alle beskåret at kunne synge over fem oktaver - og stadig have fuld fokus på sine tilhørere, hvad enten man synger sjælfuldt fra en balkon eller synger mens man smadrer den violin man lige har stjålet fra violinisten.

Eight Songs for a Mad King i Brænderitårnet på Spritten er hverken smukt, behageligt eller genkendeligt. Værket er til gengæld foruroligende smertefuldt og beundringsværdigt præcist udført avantgarde. Forud for sin tid. Eviggyldig i sine ord.”

• sceneblog.dk

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“Den svenskfødte, herboende bassanger Gustav Johansson, brændte totalt igennem som gale og glatraget Kong George III, der i mange år sad låst inde i tårnet på slottet Windsor. Rollen kræver det utroligste af sin sanger - ikke blot rent stemmemæssigt, men også en total beherskelse af gestik og mimik - for at kunne fremstille det totale vanvid i den gales sind og fremtræden.”

• Nordjyske

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“Den svenske bassanger Gustav Johansson udførte rollen, som var den skabt til ham. Både vanviddet og de mere beherskede øjeblikke lyste ud af hans øjne, han havde en gudsbenådet mimik og koreografi, og hans ekstatiske energi og imponerende udholdenhed var forrygende. Brænderitårnets rå interiør og et flot lysdesign leverede en genial scene for galskaben. På programmet var også herboende Connor McLeans solostykke ’Swallowing my teeth’ hvor også Gustav Johansson udfoldede sig fantastisk.”

• kulturen.dk

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Breaking the Waves - 22/7-2022

Vadstena-Akademien, Vadstena

”Alla sånginsatser håller hög nivå. Starkt intryck gjorde den mänskliga Dodo (Ebba Lejonclou) och den onde prästen (Gustav Johansson)

• Motala Vadstena Tidning

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Rape of Lucretia - 17/11-2018

Musiikkitalo, Helsingfors 

”den äkta mannen Collatinus tolkades mjukt av Gustav Johansson”

• Hufvudstadsbladet

Gustav Johansson has toured and performed, as soloist as well as part of choir in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, UK, France, Germany, Malta.
This includes stages at The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, The old radiohouse's Concert hall, Holmens Kirke, the Stockholm Concert hall, Berwaldhallen in Stockholm, the House of Nobility in Stockholm, De Geerhallen in Norrköping, Stockholm Cathedral, Vadstena Cathedral, Lund's Cathedral, Malmö Live, Helsinki Music Centre, Tours opera house and Berliner Dom.

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Since his exam in June 2021 from the Opera Academy in Copenhagen he has taken part of following concerts and performances:

2022

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November

28 November - Amahl and the Night Visitors at Søholm Opera

27 November - Amahl and the Night Visitors at Søholm Opera

10 November - Imitationer af liv, semi staged koncert with music by Kirstine Fogh Vindelev 

6 November - Soloist in Fauré's Requiem at Grundtvigs Kirke

4 November - Jump in the choir of Mozarts Requiem at Malmö Live 

3 November - Jump in the choir of Mozarts Requiem at Malmö Live 

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October

22 October -  LiederFest22. Lied Recital with pianist Kristoffer Hersnack Kaad. Arranged two lied recitals

21 October -  LiederFest22. Lied Recital with pianist Kristoffer Hersnack Kaad. Arranged two lied recitals

20 October -  LiederFest22. Arranged two lied recitals

19 October -  LiederFest22. Arranged two lied recitals

16 October -  LiederFest22. Arranged one Master class with conductor/coach Thomas Bagwell

8 October - Memorial concert for Marianne Rørholm

September

11 September - Bach Concert at Grundtvigs Church

August

26 August - Soloist with Norrköpings Symfoniorkester in De Geer-hallen, Norrköping

13 August - Tour with 'Swallowing my teeth' and 'Eight songs for a Mad King' with Insimul Sinfonietta in Copenhagen 

12 August - Tour with 'Swallowing my teeth' and 'Eight songs for a Mad King' with Insimul Sinfonietta in Ålborg

10 August -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

9 August -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

7 August -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

5 August -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

1 August -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

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July

31 July -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

29 July  -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

26 July  -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

25 July  -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

22 July -  Breaking the Waves at Vadstena-Akademien 

June

3 June - Le Nozze di Figaro with Copenhagen Opera Academy

2 Jun - The Nose by Shostakovich at The Royal Danish Theatre 

1 June - Le Nozze di Figaro with Copenhagen Opera Academy

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May

29 May - The Nose by Shostakovich at The Royal Danish Theatre 

23 May - Nanna Treu Exam Recital - Music by Nikki Martin

19 May - The Nose by Shostakovich at The Royal Danish Theatre 

7 May - The Nose by Shostakovich at The Royal Danish Theatre 

2 May - Half of 'Eight songs for a Mad King' in Halmstad 

1 May - The Nose by Shostakovich at The Royal Danish Theatre 

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April

10 April - St. John's Passion by Bach in Allhelgonakyrkan, Lund. 

March

23 March -  Matias Vestergaard Debut Concert.

February

23 February - Fredmans kærlighed, produced, wrote and performed my own show.

22 February - Fredmans kærlighed, produced, wrote and performed my own show.

21 February - Fredmans kærlighed, produced, wrote and performed my own show.

2021

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December

16 December - Messiah by Händel in Grundtvigs Church, canceled due to covid-19

13 December -  Luciatåg at the Swedish church in Copenhagen

11 December -  Christmas Carols at Samsø

November

10 November  - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

9 November  - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

6 November  - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

4 November  - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

3 November - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

2 November - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

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October

30 October - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

29 October - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

28 October - Stille Slag på Østerbro Theatre

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September

12 september - Recording of Frans Biber's Requiem with Dalby Kammarkör

8 september - Concert in Grundtvigs kirke, 100-year jubilee of the church

5 september - Cantata by Mads Høck in Grundtvigs kirke

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August

22 august -  Eight songs for a Mad King with Insimul at Utstein Kloster, Stavanger

12 augusti -  Umbót, Concert at Ung Nordisk Musikfestival in Århus

8 august -  Terrace Concerts at Aalborg Opera festival

July

27 July - Pagliacci by Leoncavallo at Samsø, part of the ensemble plus pop up concerts 

28 July - Pagliacci by Leoncavallo at Samsø, part of the ensemble plus pop up concerts 

29 July - Pagliacci by Leoncavallo at Samsø, part of the ensemble plus pop up concerts 

June

23 June - Nick Martin debut concert