Sven’s musical education was undertaken in Reykjavik and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He made his operatic debut as Ferrando Cosi fan tutte with the Opera Studio of the Icelandic Opera.
Sven Hjörleifsson’s operatic career began with a guest appearance as Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte at Landestheater Linz during the 2011/12 season. His performance led to a full-time position in the opera ensemble, where he quickly became renowned for his exceptional acting skills and his nuanced portrayals of complex characters. At Linz, Sven's diverse repertoire included Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and the Fried Swan in Carmina Burana. He also excelled as Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Rosillon in Die Lustige Witwe, Boni in Die Csárdásfürstin, Ulrich in Harmony der Welt and took on the three roles of Sorceress, Spirit and Sailor in Dido and Aeneas.
Following his tenure at Linz, Sven continued to make a significant impact at the Leipzig Opera, where he was celebrated for his exceptional interpretation. His performances included Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, the Witch in Hänsel und Gretel, Veit in Undine, and Narraboth in Salome. Sven also performed as Tenor in Magnificat, Steuermann in Der fliegende Holländer, Wenzel in Die verkaufte Braut and Cassio in Otello. His portrayal of Boles in Peter Grimes, Pong in Turandot, Froh in Das Rheingold, and Junger Diener in Elektra further cemented his reputation as a versatile and compelling performer. Notably, his role as Lord Bothwell in Mary Queen of Scots and his reprise of Boles in Peter Grimes and Alfred in Die Fledermaus were also particularly acclaimed.
Sven's career has also been marked by frequent participation in world premieres. Notably, he portrayed Armstrong in Moritz Eggert’s Terra Nova and, in 2017, was featured as Knappe in the Wiener Festwochen and Berliner Festtagen performances of Lang’s reinterpretation of Wagner’s Parsifal.
Other significant highlights include performing the Narrator in Paradise und Die Peri at the Vienna Konzerthaus, Schubert's Mass in F with the Wiener Akademie at the Wiener Musikverein, and Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Vorarlberg Landestheater. Sven also performed Belmonte with the Danish National Opera, tenor arias in Bach’s Matthäus Passion with the Bach Choir Hannover, and Elijah with the Sinfonia Christ König in Linz. In 2019, he performed Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah in Sweden.
Sven has also delivered recital performances of Die schöne Müllerin and Dichterliebe in Linz and Vienna. He portrayed Rodolfo in La Bohème and Hoffmann in Hoffmanns Erzählungen with the company “Opera rund um” in various venues around Vienna. Notably, at the grand opening of the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik in 2011, he sang the tenor solo in Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, followed by several concerts with the same orchestra, including performances of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Hector Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette, and Jesus in Beethoven’s Christus am Ölberg.
Sven has produced a performance of Die schöne Müllerin as a drag performance, which was nominated for Best Performance and Best Singer of the Year in Iceland. This innovative reinterpretation showcased his versatility and creative vision, earning widespread acclaim.
