Icelandic opera singer Gardar Thor Cortes was recently interviewed in his UK home by Hello! Magazine. The eight-page spread on the Icelandic singer follows the release of his latest album, ‘When You Say You Love Me’ on June 30th.

Gardar Thor Cortes is one of his country’s best-known musical exports and has been twice voted Iceland’s Sexiest Man. The Icelandic tenor already has a number one album under his belt, along with a Classical Brit Award nomination and a performance schedule almost as long as Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

‘Cortes’, his hit first record, went to the top of the UK charts for three weeks and was double platinum in the singer’s native Iceland.

Widely dubbed ‘the James Bond of Opera’, Cortes tells Hello! Magazine that “the only thing James Bond and I have in common is we both wear suits to work.”

Cortes and his actress wife Tinna invited Hello! into their country house in Surrey for an interview and photo shoot. The magazine said the Icelandic couple divides their time between their home in the UK and their spiritual homeland, Iceland. Their busy and independent schedules mean that work often keeps them apart for extended periods.

“We try not to spend more than three weeks apart,” says Tinna – but the couple still finds this arrangement can be difficult. Recently, whilst Gardar was on tour in Europe and North America, Tinna was appearing in a play in northern Iceland.

Cortes’ new album, When You Say You Love Me, features a mix of classical opera and modern songs, as well as previously unheard material.

For more information on the new album and upcoming Cortes events visit: www.officialcortes.com

Icelandic classical singer Gardar Thor Cortes has released his second album ‘When You Say You Love Me’ this week.

Cortes is a rising star in the UK following a No. 1 selling album, a string of sell-out tours and a Classical BRIT Award nomination. His self-titled debut album ‘Cortes’ was top of the UK charts for 3 weeks in 2007 and was the fastest-ever selling record in Iceland.

The Icelandic tenor has also performed with Katherine Jenkins, Lesley Garrett, Natasha Marsh and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa on a number of worldwide tours.

Using the same writing team that worked on his debut album, Cortes’ latest release ‘When You Say You Love Me’ is a blend of classical music with a few contemporary tracks.

The album will feature opera favourites such as ‘M’appari Tutt Amor’ from Martha, ‘Pourquoi Me Reveiller’ from Werther, ‘Com’e gentil’ from Don Pasquale, modern favourite ‘She’ from Notting Hill and a duet with Natasha Marsh of ‘The Prayer’.

The album will also include new material specially rearranged for Cortes including ‘Mama’ and ‘Autumn Leaves’ and the classic Icelandic lullaby ‘Sofdu unga astin min’. The leading track ‘When You Say You Love Me’ will be the first single to be released from the album.

The album can be purchased online from Play.com and at Amazon.co.uk.

For more information on the new album and upcoming Cortes events the UK, USA and Asia, visit: www.officialcortes.com

Icelandic tenor Gardar Thor Cortes will release his new album “When You Say You Love Me” next Monday in both Iceland and the UK.

The album follows up on his self-titled debut album which became a No 1 selling album in the UK and the fastest ever selling record in Iceland. It was also nominated as Album of the Year at the 2008 Classical BRIT Awards.

Gardar Thor Cortes says the album has been in the making since late 2007 and is a labour of love. “It was such a true joy putting this together. It’s a nice mixture of pop classics and superb classical pieces,” says the tenor.

The album will feature opera favourites such as ‘M’appari Tutt Amor’ from Martha, ‘Pourquoi Me Reveiller’ from Werther, ‘Com’e gentil’ from Don Pasquale, the classic ‘She’ from Notting Hill and a duet with Natasha Marsh called ‘The Prayer’.

The album will also feature a collection of new material specially rearranged for Cortes including the songs ‘Mama’ and ‘Autumn Leaves’. Not forgetting his Icelandic roots, the album will also include the classic Icelandic lullaby ‘Sofdu unga astin min’. The leading track ‘When You Say You Love Me’ will be the first single to be released from the album.

Last month, The Sunday Telegraph Magazine described Cortes as “Heir to Pavarotti’s crown”. The Icelandic tenor has also been described as ‘The James Bond of Opera’ (GMTV) and ‘The Voice of Pavarotti with the looks of Brad Pitt’ (Newsweek).

The album is out on Monday June 30th and can be preordered online from Play.com and at Amazon.co.uk.

Cortes will be performing throughout the UK, USA and Asia this year. For more details of the new album and future Cortes events visit: www.officialcortes.com

Ermenegildo Zegna has announced the signing of the 2008 Classical BRIT nominee Gardar Thor Cortes as an ambassador for the global fashion brand.

The classical opera singer will join the ranks of Hollywood Oscar-winners Sir Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh, Ewan McGregor and Adrian Brody.

The announcement coincides with the imminent release of Cortes’ second album, “When You Say You Love Me”, on Monday 30th June. Ermenegildo Zegna & Believer Music are hosting the launch of the new album on Thursday 26th June 2008 at Forbes House in London.

Last month, The Sunday Telegraph Magazine described Cortes as “Heir to Pavarotti’s crown”. Cortes’ No.1 selling self-titled debut album stayed at the top spot for 3 weeks in the UK last year and was Iceland’s fastest ever selling record. The album was nominated as Album of the Year at the 2008 Classical BRIT Awards.

‘When You Say You Love Me’ will combine classical music with a contemporary twist. The album will feature opera favourites such as ‘M’appari’ from Martha, ‘Pourquoi Me Reveiller’ from Werther, ‘Com’e gentil’ from Don Pasquale as well as a collection of new material. ‘When You Say You Love Me’ will be the first single to be released from the album.

Cortes began his career in acting, appearing first in West Side Story, and then going on to win the lead role of Raoul in Phantom of the Opera performing at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London. Cortes then secured a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London alongside Katherine Jenkins.

‘When You Say You Love Me’ will be released in the UK and Iceland on Monday 30th June. For more information on Gardar Thor Cortes visit www.officialcortes.com