SEAN BELL
Countertenor and Performance Artist
Sean performs operatic, chamber, and sacred works from the classical and early music canon. He also investigates new methods of interpreting this repertoire. Through contemporary sonic imaginations he has made new arrangements of old works, including a synth-pop album of songs by John Dowland. His investigation into refiguring early repertoire has led to a series of collaborations and solo performances on the border line between classical music and performance art. Sean also works extensively with contemporary music and has premiered and commissioned several pieces for countertenor.
Sean has worked with a variety of ensembles including Ny Norsk Messingkvintett (New Norwegian Brass quintet), Oslo 14, Early Voices and The Norwegian Soloist Choir. Bell plays baroque guitar, is an active improviser, and engages in instrument building and music electronics.
In 2021 he made his debut at Høstutstillingen (the Norwegian state’s annual exhibition) with his performance work ‘Stille Amare’. In November 2023 he made his solo debut at the Norwegian Opera and Ballet in the role Johan in the opera ‘Ingenting (Nothing)’ by David Bruce. In spring 2024 he did a European tour of his album ‘Dowland Downloaded’.
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CV
Selected concert and stage work
Tour of Dowland Downloaded in Dublin (Unit 44), Gallway (Mechanics Institute), Birmingham (Centrala), den Haag (Slagroom), Utrecht (Gaudeamus Terrapolis) and Oslo (Black Box teater and cafe Mir). April-May 2024.
Performance concert FICTION at Rom for dans in Oslo. May 2024.
Debut at the Norwegian Opera and Ballet in the role Johan in the opera Ingenting (Nothing) by David Bruce. Premier in November 2023.
Minaminotori, stage performance for eight singers and tape loops by Daniel Cross, performed by NKK NXT 22/23. Teater Stefanus, Wonderfeel, Gaudeamus, Tilburg. A Nederlands Kamerkoor and Rosa Ensemble co-production. May-September 2023.
Tonehimmel contemporary music festival Volda, Norway. Performing pieces by Kristin Bolstad and Tze Yeung Ho, with Ny Norsk Messingkvintett (brass quintet). June 2023.
Tilen Lebar: Vicinity of Solitude, Zavod Sploh production. Mono-operetta for countertenor, harp, percussion, saxophone and violin, 12.10.2022 premier in Koper, Slovenia. 19.10.2022 performance at Studio Loos in den Haag.
St. John Passion, J. S. Bach. Altsoloist with Stokka Kantori. Conductor: Ghislain Gourvennec 10.04.2022 – Stokka church, Stavanger.
Debut at Høstutstillingen 2021 (the Norwegian state’s annual exhibition) with the performance work ‘Stille Amare’ (2021).
Sick Trance Glory Mud by Zephyr Brüggen, a theatre work in the Amsterdamse Bos in 2020.
‘Eg er ein frosk’ performance for children. With Ny Norsk Messingkvintett by composer Kristin Bolstad. With texts by Kurt Johannessen. Premiered in Oslo May 2018.
Open CV
Education
2020–2022: Master of Early Music Voice, The Royal Conservatoire, The Hague
2018–2019: Erasmus+ student, The Royal Conservatoire, The Hague
2015–2019: Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Norwegian Academy of Music
2014–2015: Musicology studies at University of Oslo.