Irene Kurka in der Zentralbibliothek in Duesseldorf

Irene Kurka (born 1974) is a German

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

Life

Born in

Darmstadt Darmstadt () is a city in the States of Germany, state of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Frankfurt Rhine Main Area, Rhine-Main-Area (Frankfurt Metropolitan Region). Darmstadt has around 160,000 inhabitants, making it th ...

, Kurka studied singing with

Reri Grist Reri Grist (born February 29, 1932) is an American coloratura soprano, one of the pioneer African-American singers to enjoy a major international career in opera. Biography Reri Grist was born in New York City, grew up in the East River Hous ...

( Hochschule für Musik und Theater München) as well as with Barbara Hill Moore (Meadows School of the Arts / Southern Methodist University, Dallas) and Nancy Hermiston ( University of British Columbia). She has also taken master classes with Emma Kirkby and Maria Jonas. In addition to musical theatre and oratorio roles, she is particularly interested in contemporary Lieder and has

premiere A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its first ...

d numerous works. Kurka sings with and in the following groups: e-mex-ensemble, notabu-ensemble Düsseldorf, Kölner Vokalsolisten, , ensemble chronophonie, , ''La Tenerezza'' (with Katja Beisch, recorders; Johanna Seitz, baroque harp; , keyboard instrument), ''Duo Klangvoll'' (with Barbara Lechner, guitar), ''Socell 21'' (with Burkart Zeller, violoncello) and ''Soprakkordeon'' (with

Stefan Hippe Stefan Hippe (born 1966) is a German composer, conductor and accordionist. Life Born in Nuremberg, Hippe received his first accordion lessons from Herbert Bausewein in 1974 and his first composition lessons from Hans-Ludwig Schilling in 1981 ...

, accordion).Kurka, Irene
on squidco

Awards

* 2013 of the Bezirks Mittelfranken (Laudatio: Wilfried Krüger) * 2014 Music Award of the State Capital Düsseldorf

Podcasts

''neue musik leben''

Recordings

* ''Klavierlieder von Eva-Maria Houben'' – Edition Wandelweiser Records und Bayerischer Rundfunk (2017) * ''Chants'' – Edition Wandelweiser Records und Bayerischer Rundfunk (2017) * ''Beten.Prayer'' – Edition Wandelweiser Records und Bayerischer Rundfunk (2015) * ''Hildegard von Bingen und John Cage'' – Edition Wandelweiser Records und Bayerischer Rundfunk (2012) * ''Stabat Mater'' – Makro Musikverlag (2011) * ''Two.too'' – Edition Wandelweiser Records (2009) * ''Credo,'' Michael Denhoff – Cybele Records (2004)

References

External links