Garðar Wiki - Recently Updated Pages

Discography

ChantelleC — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:58:09 CDT

Cortes

Released 2005 in Iceland, reached #1
1. Nella Fantasia
2. The Prayer
3. Skýið
4. Caruso
5. Bæn
6. Lontano
7. All I Know of Love
8. Romanza
9. Love is a Miracle
10. Bláu Augun

Cortes

Released 2007 in the UK, reached #1 in UK classical chart
1. Nella Fantasia
2. Hunting High and Low
3. Luna (with a special appearance by Heather Small)
4. Love is a Miracle
5. Caruso
6. Romanza
7. Lontano
8. Where the Lost Ones Go (duet with Katherine Jenkins)
9. Nessun Dorma
10. Granada
11. Con Te
12. Skýið

When You Say You Love Me

Released June 30, 2008
1. When You Say You Love Me
2. She
3. Mama
4. Autumn Leaves
5. M'appari tutt'amor
6. Che Gelida Manina
7. The Prayer - Duet with Natasha Marsh
8. Lady
9. Sacrificial Love
10. Mattinata
11. Pourquoi Me Réveiller
12. No Words
13. Com e Gentil
14. Sofðu unga Ástin mín

Links

ChantelleC — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:19:39 CDT

Chantelle Constable, web-mistress of GardarWiki.com... and a classically trained soprano! But art songs aren't all you'll hear... Chantelle's not-so-secret love is the Great American Songbook-- jazz and showtunes!
www.click-studios.com

Natasha Poholka is a mezzo-soprano with a beautiful, rich voice. With her sister Crystal, she has released two albums, and you can find more information at their website, www.crystalandnatasha.com. Natasha also runs an online magazine devoted to other singers called "Pure Talent Online" (www.crystalandnatasha.com/puretalent) which I (Chantelle) have been proud to write interviews for on two occasions!
Hear Natasha sing at www.myspace.com/natashamarcella

Kristyn Murphy - www.kristynmurphy.com
Kristyn, known to her fans as the "barefoot soprano," combines her love for music with a carefree, youthful spirit that endears her to critics and peers of any age! Kristyn's goal is not only to broaden the appeal of classical music, but to encourage her audience members to develop their own unique individuality.
In addition to her official website, Kristyn also has a fanlisting at www.barefootsoprano.com that she would love for you to join!

Nicole Byblow
www.myspace.com/nicolebyblow
http://cdbaby.com/cd/nicolebyblow

Updates

ChantelleC — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:17:44 CDT

April 7, 2008
Information for the new album, "When You Say You Love Me," such as a picture of the cover and known songs on the tracklisting, has been added to the Discography page!

March 9, 2008
I added an "Opera" page for information about the various roles Gardar has played over the years, and I also added a few more articles to the "Press" page!

Nov. 5, 2007
Thanks to JohnP of the Cortes.is forums, there are pictures of the Nov. 4th Lesley Garrett / Gardar show in Llandudno!
http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd93/GardarWiki/Llandudno110407/

Sept. 29, 2007
For your enjoyment-- icons!
http://www.gardarwiki.com/page/Goodies
You may use them wherever you wish! Your forums, website, etc. (However, if you repost them as a set of icons, please give credit to me (Chantelle at GardarWiki.com) as the creator. Thanks!)

Sept. 28, 2007
I've created a photobucket album for uploading pictures of Gardar; I'm not happy with the organization WetPaint's built in gallery provides. However, if anyone besides myself would like to add photos, you are free to use the exsisting gallery templates!
http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd93/GardarWiki

Press

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:16:20 CDT

For links to online articles / interviews / reviews, or scans of the same.

Iceland Review - Icelandic Tenor Cortes Nominated for Brit Awards - 02/28/2008

Independent.ie - A tenor says Cortes will be a star of the opera - 01/06/2008

Manchester Evening News - Where a Tenor goes a long way - 04/25/2007

____________________________________________
(from above this line, newest articles are at the top)

ClassicFM

http://www.classicfm.com/Article.asp?id=303427&spid
http://www.classicfm.com/Article.asp?id=377582&spid

...........

The Sun - April 18, 2007

Glasswork.co.uk

BBC.co.uk - Cortes & Westenra
BBC.co.uk - Friday Night is Music Night - April 20, 2007

VisitReykjavik.is - 8.3.2007

OperaChick.typepad.com

Telegraph - "Iceland's Hottest Geezer"

The Independent - 19 May 2007

Live on the Lawn 2007

ANTARA News 17/04/07*

IcelandGuest.com "In Focus" 4.5.2007

A-ha.fr.com*

NewmarketRacecourses.co.uk June 5th 2007

Icelandic tenor sings for Shelter August 15, 2007

*article in foreign language

Opera

ChantelleC — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:54:02 CDT

There are some interesting photos of Gardar as the Duke of Manuta in Rigoletto on the following pages of OperaDuetsPhotos.com
http://www.operaduetsphotos.com/singers/Cortes.html
http://www.operaduetstravel.com/20051022_Rigoletto.html
http://www.operaduetsphotos.com/Rigoletto/2005_1022.html
http://www.operaduetstravel.com/20051023_Rigoletto.html

Articles

ChantelleC — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:03:08 CST

A tenor says Cortes will be a star of the opera
Make way Domingo, move over Carreras. Iceman Gardar Thor Cortes is on the map, says Evan Fanning
By Evan Fanning
Sunday January 06 2008

AN official My-Space page is not necessarily something you would expect an operatic tenor to be in possession of. The social networking website is normally the domain of pop or rock acts looking to pick up new fans and provide gig information, rather than classical artists trying to entice people to their local opera houses.

As a man who was once labelled by Newsweek as having "the voice of Pavarotti and the looks of Brad Pitt" Gardar Thor Cortes (better known as Cortes) is well placed to try and bring opera to a younger audience. The 33-year-old Icelandic tenor, who has the likes of Katherine Jenkins and Myleene Klass among his "Top Friends" on his Myspace page alongside his YouTube videos, is performing for the first time as a solo-artist in the National Concert Hall in Dublin this Thursday.
He's been here before as part of an Opera Ireland production of Cosi fan tutte and as we talk just prior to Christmas in the London office of his record label Cortes is looking forward to returning. "Icelandic people like Ireland a lot because that's where we come from," he says, "so when we go to Ireland we feel at home. Apparently the look of Irish people and Icelandic people is not that dissimilar."
There may be some truth in that but it's fair to say that most men wouldn't object to looking like Cortes. His looks and singing ability have enabled him to be among the foremost 'crossover' artists who combine traditional opera with new takes on famous pop songs. This appeal also led to Newsweek's Pavarotti and Brad Pitt comparison, which is now destined to follow Cortes around whether or not he likes it.
"That Pavarotti and Brad Pitt thing is nice," he says, "but it's so wrong. For one, nobody is going to step into Pavarotti's shoes. You can't and you wouldn't want to, because you want to be individual and unique and it's disrespectful to his memory to try and pin somebody else on him and in his shoes. The fact that somebody thought it is flattering therefore you try and accept it and appreciate it but I would be stupid to walk out of here and think, 'I'm just like Pavarotti'."
Cortes is involved with music mogul Einar Bardarson, a man nicknamed the Icelandic Simon Cowell after appearing as a judge on their version of The X Factor. His album is released on Bardarson's Believer Music label and became the fastest-selling album of all-time in Iceland and went straight to number one in the UK classical charts when it was released in April of last year.
"He [Bardarson] called me one day and asked for a meeting," Cortes recalls. "He asked me what I thought about making an album and it was that simple. I didn't think it was that good an idea because I didn't think that many people would buy the album, but it's all worked out well."
He shouldn't be too surprised. Music, and opera music in particular, is very much in the Cortes family bloodstream. His father, Gardar Snr, was a renowned tenor himself before becoming tired of the travelling involved and the long periods away from his family. He then founded the Icelandic Opera as well as the Reykjavik School of Singing (where his children studied) and the Reykjavik Symphony Orchestra. His English mother, Krystyna, is a concert pianist who studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London while brother and sister are a baritone and a soprano respectively.
Cortes has recently married an Icelandic actress called Tinna and although he hates being away from her he has no plans to prematurely retire from the touring circuit, as his father did. "I hate being away from home," he says. "It can be tiring and difficult to be away from my family and my wife, but being in the UK is not so bad because my mother's sister and her family are here.
"We're also very fortunate that because Tinna's an actress she can choose when and where she works so we've been able to travel a lot together. She just finished acting school last May so she waited until the New Year before accepting jobs. She comes here or when I have a break I go back. You can make things work if you want to."
Cortes is as committed in his career as he is in his personal life. He began acting as a child, and at 13 was on a TV show in Iceland. At 18, he realised he wanted to be a singer and in pursuit of this spent time studying in Vienna, Copenhagen, London and in his father's school in Reykjavik. In 1999, he was offered the lead role in The Phantom of the Opera in London's West End. Although he still admits to being in two minds over being an actor or a singer, he decided to leave The Phantom when his contract expired to pursue more traditional opera. The decision has paid off, and Cortes has performed in some the world's biggest venues with some of the biggest stars in opera. But does someone who is 10 years shy of what they say are the peak years for a tenor get nervous each and every time he steps up to a new level?
"I've just done a show in Iceland with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who is probably the most famous soprano in the world. I'm not being big headed or anything but that wasn't any different for me as a singer singing there as it was singing at a private party for 20 people back home in Iceland. It's the same thing. You're performing in front of an audience and you have to do your best.
"Obviously, if the show is at the Barbican or Carnegie Hall there's always a little buzz or you think, 'Blimey, what am I doing? This is amazing', but then, that's it. You warm up, prepare, go on stage and deliver." Being a so-called 'crossover' artist can bring its own problems, however. It's something of a dirty word among opera traditionalists who think the fusion of opera and pop degrades the great tradition of opera. Cortes appreciates that opinion but feels there is a middle ground than can be reached.
"It is a dirty word for some, especially some of the opera houses," he says, "and rightly so when people don't do it tastefully and correctly. Then it's not right, and I agree with that. But if it's done tastefully and right then I think it's a good thing to try and introduce classical music to more people. Crossover is just one way of introducing the music to more people. Obviously, it's not the only way. You can keep on doing opera and popularising that and opera houses and opera companies can do more. They've got to go with the times. Nobody should be snobbish. People should have an open mind." It's fair to assume that Cortes is a useful tool when it comes to opening people's minds.
Cortes performs with the RTE Concert Orchestra on Thursday, at the National Concert Hall.Booking 01 4170000/ www.nch.ie - Evan Fanning

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/a-tenor-says-cortes-will-be-a-star-of-the-opera-1258773.html

Music Videos

ChantelleC — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:04:38 CDT

TV / Radio

ChantelleC — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:39:12 CDT

Downloads

http://www.click-studios.com/gardarwiki/Gardar_Thor_Cortes_April_14th_2007.wmv (Classic FM special, April 14 2007, behind-the-scenes) (also on YouTube)
http://www.click-studios.com/gardarwiki/Gardar_GMTV_July_26_2007.wmv (GMTV July 26, 2007) (also on YouTube)
http://www.click-studios.com/gardarwiki/20070803loosewomen_cortes.wmv (Loose Women August 3, 2007 (Thanks to Dave at HWI!)) (also on YouTube)
http://www.click-studios.com/gardarwiki/Gardar_IfIRuledTheWorld.mp3 ("If I Ruled the World" from "Friday Night is Music Night."

Fan Stories

Ethereal — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:30:15 CDT

Feel free to add your story about the time you met Gardar, or saw him in concert!
-Chantelle

We meet Gardar on the 27th July 2007. He was promoting his single "High and Low" in the Metrocentre, Gateshead, England. I took my 8yr old son along as he is on hus school holidays. We watched his performance, which was fantastic. James my son found it a little to noisy so he wrapped his arms around his head. His father then gave him the camera (he is a keen photographer).

After the performance we went to the record store, to the signing. Luck for us, we where 1st in the queue. Gardar recognised James straight away. He had a great chat with him about the photographs and the fact he covered his ears. He then signed MY album to him. James has now took the cd to his room, where it is
played at full volume. He also calls Gardar "his friend"

Gardar is charming and charismatic and we are all looking forward to meeting him again.

Debbie Lunt

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I attended Gardar's UK debut at the Barbican in London, on September the 26th 2007. It was one of the most wonderful concerts I've had the good fortune to attend: I was with my family, in seats that were the 3rd or 4th row from the front. The Barbican Hall itself was warm and inviting; just big enough to add to the excitement, but small enough to feel intimate and comfortable. The Orchestra performed minus Gardar or Diddu to begin with, and it was pleasant, stimulating introduction to the performance- setting the scene for what was to come!

Gardar's voice is even more beautiful live than it is on his album- he is even more absorbing in concert, as you can see the sincere emotion that colours his features as he performs. It is audible in his voice- it swells and strains with as full a heart as can be imagined, like an ocean in the midst of a raging tempest- or on a clear and tranquil night! He is truly mesmerising, emotionally engaging and inspirational. Diddu herself is a wonderful performer- although she doesn't seem to 'feel' the music to the same extent Gardar does, she certainly knows how to deliver in a dramatic and spontaneous manner! She has energy, vivacity, and an instant charm! And of course her voice is quite remarkable...she has quite a range!

The two interacted very well with each other on stage; they seemed entirely comfortable and they complemented each other quite well. Gardar Sr. was also a wonderful addition to the evening- he seemed to be an incredibly passionate conductor; and he oozes both confidence and competence- exactly what I'd expect from so seasoned a performer as himself! The bond between all three performers is what, I think, contributed to the beautiful flow and feel of the concert.

The final two songs performed by Gardar were the most memorable- Caruso was a deeply pure expression of emotion that shot straight through to the heart: a bejewelled bullet! Nessun Dorma was epic, and infused with all the drama you'd expect from a finale...

I was fortunate enough to bump into both Gardar and Gardar Sr. afterwards, at the Barbican restaurant- a pure coincidence! Gardar in person is wonderfully warm and very grounded. He seems to generate a very kind and soulful energy...in other words, he's lovely! A perfect gentleman; heart-warmingly humble and with a sincere smile. I could say the same things about Gardar Sr.- but that's hardly surprising! All in all: it was really a quite moving concert, made extra special by my encounter at the end. I hope everybody that attended had a similarly wonderful time!

Natasha (Moonshadow) xoxo

Goodies

ChantelleC — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:12:51 CDT

Icons - 80x80

Icons - 100x100

Gardar Gallery, extended

ChantelleC — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:32:03 CDT

For photos of the Sept. 26, 2007, Barbican show, & more!

http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd93/GardarWiki

As always, photos are used with the intent of promoting Gardar's career and for the enjoyment of his fans.
If I have used any photos of yours that you would rather maintain exclusive rights to, just say the word and *snap* the pictures will be gone from this website!

Gardar Gallery 3

ChantelleC — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:41:06 CDT



	"Garðar Thor og Nanna María Cortes syngja"	Flyer for the Sept 26 Barbican concert!

Schedule

ChantelleC — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:46:20 CDT

16/04/2007 - Album release, pre-order: HMV.CO.UK , amazon.co.uk and .play.com

02/06/2007 - Covent Garden Market - Performing at 3pm & 6pm

03/06/2007 - Covent Garden Market - Performing at 1pm & 3.30pm

07/06/2007 - Carmen with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and conductor Nicolae Moldoveanu at Haskolabio Reykjavik.

09/06/2007 - Gloucester hall - Fort regent, St Helier, Jersey - With Hayley Westenra - 7:45. Box Office Tel: 01534 449 827G

CANCELLED - 13/06/2007 - NEC - Birmingham - "Music & Gardens For A Summer Evening", Cortes headlines the Evening of Classical Music, with guest soprano Andrea Ross

CANCELLED - 16/06/2007 - Hampton Court Palace Festival - Performing with Leslie Garrett and the National Symphony Orchestra

24/06/2007 - With Katherine Jenkins at Darlington football club Cancelled.

24/06/2007 - With Katherine Jenkins at Darlington football club Cancelled.

05/07/2007 - Tuscany - More details to follow

07/07/2007 - Tuscany - More details to follow

11/07/2007 - New Market Ritz Festival - In asssociation with Classical FM - Performing 4 songs at 4.15pm

28/07/2007 - Scone Palace - Perth, Scotland - outdoor concert - 5.30pm. Box Office: Tel. 01738 552300

21/09/2007 - Gloucester Hall, Fort Regent, Jersey. Cortes will be headlining

his own show with the National Symphony Orchestra,

plus a special guest.

26/09/2007 - Barbican Centre - Cortes' UK debut concert . Silk Street,

London, EC2Y 8DS. Tickets available at The Barbican

Centre and Ticket Master.

13/10/2007 - Spa Centre, South Bay, Scarborough, YO11 2HD.

Supporting Lesley Garrett on tour.

Box Office: 01723 357869

Website: www.scarboroughspa.co.uk/

01/11/2007 - Symphony Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA.

Supporting Lesley Garrett on tour.

Box Office: 0121 780 3333

Website: www.necgroup.co.uk/

04/11/2007 - Theatre of North Wales, The Promenade, Llandudno,

LL30 1BB. Supporting Lesley Garrett on tour.

Box Office: 01492 872 000

Website: www.venuecymru.co.uk/home.php?/home

11/11/2007 - Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AH.

Supporting Lesley Garrett on tour.

Box Office: 01332 255 800

Website: www.assemblyrooms-derby.co.uk/

22/11/2007 - Music Hall, Union Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1QS.

Supporting Lesley Garrett on tour.

Box Office: 01224 641122

Website: www.musichallaberdeen.com/

24/11/2007 - Marina Theatre, Lowestoft. Supporting Lesley Garrett

on tour.

Box Office: 01502 533200

27/11/2007 - Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP.

Supporting Lesley Garrett on tour.

Box Office: 01604 624811

Website: www.royalandderngate.co.uk/en/Home

29/11/2007 - Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosely Street, Manchester,

M2 3WS. Supporting Lesley Garrett on tour.

Box Office: 0161 907 9000.

Website: www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/

16/02/2008 - Art On Ice, Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield,

S2 2DP.

Website: www.artonice.co.uk

Tickets: www.artonice.co.uk/tickets/htm

Home

ChantelleC — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:29:32 CDT

Welcome to Gardar Wiki, the interactive (and first American) fan-site dedicated exclusively to Icelandic tenor Garðar Thor Cortes!
If you love Gardar, then you're qualified to contribute to the website-- and doing so is as easy as using a word processor! Just click the "EasyEdit" button at the top of the page.

No copyright infrigement is intended, but if content on this wiki belongs to you and you would like it removed, or credited, then please contact me, the webmaster (ChantelleC) at showalittlefaithnow@yahoo.com.

Enjoy!

Official Website
Official MySpace
Gardar on Wikipedia
Fan MySpace
http://www.gardarthorcortes.me.uk
http://www.gardarthorcortes.com

How You Can Help...

Don't know where to begin? Try starting here...

Add pictures to the gallery
Add captions to existing pictures
Record Gardar's TV/radio appearances and upload them
Tell your story about seeing Gardar live & meeting him in the "Fan Stories" section
Post links to online articles/interviews/reviews (or scans of the same) in the "Press" section
Do you speak Icelandic? There are tons of articles out there about Gardar... in his native tongue! You could post the original articles, and translations, in the "Press" section!

Gardar Gallery 7

ChantelleC — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:00:52 CDT


	Type your photo caption or credit here.	Type your photo caption or credit here.
Type your photo caption or credit here.	Type your photo caption or credit here.	Type your photo caption or credit here.

Gardar Gallery 6

ChantelleC — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:32:50 CDT



		Thanks a million, Debbie!

Gardar Gallery 5

ChantelleC — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:30:28 CDT

Gardar Gallery 4

ChantelleC — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:27:56 CDT

The following pictures are courtesy of Debbie Lunt, from the Official Cortes Forums. Read her story about meeting Gardar on the Fan Stories page! July 27, 2007 Metrocentre, Gateshead, England

Scans

ChantelleC — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:32:47 CDT

Gardar Gallery 2

ChantelleC — Thu, 31 May 2007 12:02:03 CDT