Sabina Mossolow

Sabina Mossolow is a Namibian born South African operatic soprano.

Life and career

Early years and musical education

Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow was born in Windhoek, Namibia, to Russian-German parentage. Her father was the well know Namibian historian and archivist Nikolai Mossolow.

A student of renowned voice teacher Nellie du Toit, Sabina completed a BA degree in music and French, an honours degree in journalism, a higher performer’s licentiate in music, as well as an honours and master’s degree in music at the University of Stellenbosch.[1] Her masters thesis looked at the life of her one time mentor Nellie du Toit.[2]

For nine years she resided in Freiburg, Germany, where she furthered her vocal studies at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik under Prof Beata Heuer-Christen and Prof Maria Orán. On completion of her diploma (Künstlerische Reifeprüfung) Donald Runnicles contracted her to the Freiburg Municipal Theatre where she sang roles such as Musetta in La bohème, Michaëla in Carmen, Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte, Ghita in Der Zwerg, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Marina in I quattro rusteghi as well as Violetta in La traviata, working with producers such as Christof Loy and Gerd Heinz.[1]

Since her return to South Africa in the late nineties, Sabina has sung locally, in Namibia, Germany and Italy in recitals ranging from opera, operetta and lieder to genre of the lighter classical repertoire. She has appeared at various arts festivals locally and enjoys the artistic team work of accompanists such as Albie van Schalkwyk, Elna van der Merwe, Benjamin van Eeden, Lisa Engelbrecht and José Dias.[1][3]

Repertoire

Sabina has sung Les nuits d’été (Berlioz) at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra and was the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the CPO under Benjamin Zander. She was the understudy for Andrea Catzel in the role of the Marschallin in Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier for Cape Town Opera. Her oratorio repertoire, includes a.o. Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Mass in c minor as well as Cartellieri’s Gioas, re di Guida at the Musiktage St. Peter with the Freiburger Kammerorchester under Klaus Hövelmann.[1]

Collaborations

On several occasions Sabina has collaborated with composer Hendrik Hofmeyr as accompanist in recitals which included his works. Amongst others she has sung the première of his Sinfonia Africana with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Dover Beach and Due Sonetti di Petrarca with the Collage ensemble, Die Stil Avontuur, and has recorded his song cycle Of Darkness and the Heart with the Odeon String Quartet in Bloemfontein.[1][4]

Awards and honors

A winner of the voice category of the ATKV Forte Competition, Sabina made her debut with the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Youth Concerto Festival in Durban under David Tidboald. She was a semi-finalist in the UNISA International Singing Competition and received master classes from Galina Vishnevskaja in Salzburg, Kammersängerin Margherita Lilowa in Varna, Bulgaria, as well as Elly Ameling. Sabina, who was a soloist at the International Youth Festival Meeting in Bayreuth, is also a recipient of an International Richard Wagner Society bursary.[1]

Reviews

In a review written after a performance at Cape Town's Artscape Opera House, Mustapha Hendricks writes: "But the true vibrations came in the form of a bona fide diva, Namibian soprano Sabina Mossolow. Her velveteen voice played melodically with the chords of Verdi’s Merce, Dilette Amiche. There was a suave, mischievous sassiness to the way she moved around and she brought gentle giggles to the audience with her dramatically trembling voice. The hint of cheek and comedy in her performance reminded us of the more playful, humorous side of a medium often mistaken for being only serious and trag"[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Mossolow, Sabina". classicsa. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  2. ↑ "The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929". WorldCat. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  3. ↑ "Nederburg concert celebrates wine, women and song". www.artlink.co.za. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  4. ↑ "Hofmeyr, Hendrik". www.sacomposers.co.za. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  5. ↑ "REVIEW: LUNCHBOX OPERA". What's on in Cape Town. Retrieved 2013-08-17.