“The character of Don Giovanni could have easily been written specifically for him. One is more than happy to believe his art of seduction, though he has more qualities to show. Contemplative and with a velvety voice, he shone in Wolfram von Eschenbach’s memory of the deceased Elisabeth, “Oh du mein holder Abendstern” from Wagner’s Tannhäuser.”
As of the 2023/24 Season, baritone Gabriel Rollinson joins the ensemble at the Staatstheater Mainz, first appearing as Moralès in “Carmen,” Silvio in “Pagliacci,” and Hans Scholl in “Weiße Rose” by U. Zimmermann. Other upcoming highlights include Rascal (“Der Mond” by C. Orff at the Bayerische Staatsoper, and V. Williams, “Fantasia on Christmas Carols"/ Finzi, "In terra pax” with Netherlands Radio Stichting Omroep Muziek conducted by Marcus Creed. Upcoming Liederabende include Hugo Wolfs “Italalienisches Liederbuch” in Frankfurt and a debut at the Schubertíada Villabertran with a program of Franz Schubert and William Grant Still with pianist Hartmut Höll.
English born and of German and American parentage, Gabriel grew up between the United States and Germany, where he gathered his first musical impulses playing cello and the piano, leading to his studies in voice at the Manhattan School of Music. His further studies brought him to the August Everding Theatre Academy/University of Music in Munich and at the University of Music Karlsruhe. Starting in 2020, he was a member of the Opera Studios at Opera Frankfurt and the Bavarian State Opera with a scholarship from the New York Opera Foundation. Further Young Artist initiatives include the Heidelberger Frühling Lied Academy with Thomas Hampson in 2019 and the Young Singers Project at the Salzburg Festival in 2021.
Competitions include Gabriel’s winning of the Polish Song Prize at the 11th Internationalen Stanisław Moniuszko Competition in 2022. In 2023 he reached the semifinals of the Operalia competition.
In 2022, Gabriel made his debut at the Bregenz Festival as Idreno in Haydn's "Armida" in addition to his first appearances at the Bavarian State Opera and his debut at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in G.F. Haas’ opera “Thomas” in the 2022/23 Season. He has premiered numerous works including the role of Arturo Cidre in Micha Hamel's "Caruso a Cuba" for the Dutch National Opera and the role of Thron in Elisabeth Naske's "Vom Stern, der nicht leuchten konnte" for the Salzburg Festival. Further repertoire includes Roles such as Don Giovanni, Guglielmo, Conte Almaviva, and Harlekin, Schaunard, and Silvio.
Concerts and recitals have brought Gabriel to the George Enescu Festival, the Lake Constance Festival, the Eppaner Liedsommer and to the Bavarian Radio and orchestra, with which he has recorded multiple albums. The latest of which, “Johannespassion” by Damijan Mocnik, has enjoyed a recent release under the label Naxos/BR Klassik. Together with mezzo-soprano Yajie Zhang and pianist Hartmut Höll, Gabriel recently recorded an Art Song album with music by American composer William Grant Still (release date early 2024) for label CPO Records/SWR Radio.
He works with conductors such as Vladimir Jurowski, Johannes Debus, Lothar Zagrosek, Ivan Repušić, and Sebastian Weigle and with directors such as Barbora Haráková, Johannes Erath, and Olivier Tambosi. Artistic influences over the years include Brigitte Fassbaender, Tobias Truniger, Margreet Honig, Rudolf Piernay, Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, Eytan Pessen, Michelle Breedt, Thomas Hampson, Marek Rzepka, Hartmut Höll, Thomas Quasthoff, and John Norris.
“Gabriel Rollinson is commended for his “robust-virile” tone (Süddeutsche) and an “attractive, towering stage presence,” (Opera News). ”
