Signe Asmussen

Signe Asmussen Manuitt (born 1970) is a Danish mezzosoprano singer who has performed widely, not only in classical concerts, chamber music and opera but also in Latin jazz and as a member of the Tolkien Ensemble.[1] Since 2001, she has made a mark as one of Denmark's most impressive female singers.[2] In addition to appearances in Denmark, she has given recitals in London's Wigmore Hall and Amsterdam's Concertgebouw.[3] Asmussen recently starred as Hanna Glawari in Operette Kompagniet's production of The Merry Widow.[4] She is married to the Cuban Salsa singer Ernesto Manuitt.[5]

Signe Asmussen (centre) with the Tolkien Ensemble in 2015

Biography

Born in 1970 in Copenhagen, Signe Asmussen was brought up in a musical family, learning to sing and play the violin from an early age.[1] She studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music under Bodil Øland and Keld Thaarup, graduating as a soloist in 2001. From the start, she received encouraging support from the critics as she branched out into virtually all genres. She became particularly fond of singing lieder, developing an extensive repertoire as a member of Liedkompagniet founded by Christian Westergaard. She has been accompanied by prominent pianists from Denmark and abroad, including Howard Shelley and Peter Hill, and has sung with orchestras conducted by Thomas Dausgaard, Lan Shui, Michel Tabachnik, Michael Seal and Howard Shelley.[3]

Asmussen has participated in several ensembles, including Theatre of Voices,[6] the Copenhagen Saxophone Quartet,[7] Athelas Sinfonietta,[8] Figura Ensemble.[9] and the Esbjerg Ensemble.[10] As an opera singer, she has appeared at the Royal Danish Opera and at Den Jyske Opera in a variety of roles, including Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Bertha in The Barber of Seville and Musette in La Bohème.[11] In 2013, she sang and played the violin in Sangbogen fra Eldorado, a lively baroque concert inspired by 17th and 18th century Latin-American songs.[12] As a member of Grupo Cubita, she has also sung modern Cuban numbers.[13]

Awards

Signe Asmussen has received a number of grants and scholarships. In 2009, she was awarded the Aksel Schiøtz prize for excellence as a lieder singer.[14]

References
  1. "Signe Asmussen Manuitt". Grupo Cubita. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. Levinsen, Jakob (26 October 2001). "Blandet selskab". Berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  3. "Signe Asmussen" (in Danish). GuidOpera. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  4. "Signe er vores Hanna Glawari" (in Danish). Operette Kompagniet. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  5. "The Latin Side..." Signe Asmussen. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  6. "Signe Asmussen, mezzo". Theatre of Voices. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  7. "Koncert med: Copenhagen Saxophone Quartet og sopranen Signe Asmussen" (in Danish). Nordvestjysk Musikkreds. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  8. "Asmussen, Jespersen and the Athelas Sinfonietta play Saariaho, Nielsen, Holm and more in Copenhagen". World Concert Hall. 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  9. "Figura Ensemble // Signe Asmussen". Seismograf. 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  10. "Chansons Madécasses, Nahandove: Esbjerg Ensemble & Signe Asmussen" (in Danish). DR: Danmarks Radio. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  11. "Songbook from Eldorado". Via Artis. 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  12. "Sangbogen fra Eldorado". Via Artis. 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  13. "Grupo Cubita Live på Søpavillonen" (in Danish). AOK. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  14. "Signe Asmussen modtager Aksel Schiøtz Prisen" (in Danish). Den Jyske Operas Venner. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
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