“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.”
Distinguished with notable awards such as the Song Prizes at the 11th Internationalen Stanisław Moniuszko Competition and the 2024 Mirjam Helin Competition, the young baritone already appears across Europe’s leading opera and concert stages such as the Bavarian State Opera, the Bregenz Festival, the Berlin State Opera, the Mainz State Theater, the Opera Frankfurt, the George Enescu Festival, the Netherlands Radio, the Eppaner Liedsommer, and the Schubertíada Festival in Vilabertran, working with famed conductors such as Vladimir Jurowski, Johannes Debus, Lothar Zagrosek, and Sebastian Weigle.
He has recorded multiple albums with the Bavarian State Radio together with conductor Ivan Repušić and the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, notably “Johannespassion” by composer Damijan Mocnik. 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. An avid recitalist, Gabriel Rollinson regularly performs with Hartmut Höll. In 2024, the Duo released their first album of American art song together (SWR/CPO).
Gabriel Rollinson studied at the Manhattan School of Music, the August Everding Theatre Academy/University of Music in Munich and at the University of Music Karlsruhe with Hartmut Höll and Mitsuko Shirai. He gathered further artistic influences at the Heidelberg Spring Lied-Academy with Thomas Hampson, and with artists include Brigitte Fassbaender, Tobias Truniger, Michelle Breedt, Rudolf Piernay, Thomas Quasthoff, and Renée Fleming.
Continuing on to join the Frankfurt and Bavarian State Opera Young Artist Programs (at the latter with a scholarship from the New York Opera Foundation), he debuted at the Bregenz and Salzburg Festivals, also as a Young Artist (Young Singers Project). Thereafter, he joined the Mainz State Theater as a Resident Artist, debuting in roles such as Silvio (Pagliacci), Hans (Die Weiße Rose), Metternich (L’Aiglon), and Ping (Turandot).
English born and of German and American parentage, Gabriel Rollinson grew up between the Palatinate region in Germany and Massachusetts in the USA, where he gained his first musical impulses playing the cello and piano.
“Gabriel Rollinson is commended for his “robust-virile” tone (Süddeutsche) and an “attractive, towering stage presence,” (Opera News). ”
