Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano
Anne Sofie von Otter is considered one of the finest singers of her generation and is sought after by many of the major conductors, orchestras, opera and recording companies of the world. Born in Sweden, her studies began in Stockholm and continued with Vera Rozsa at London's Guildhall. She commenced her professional career as a principal member of the Basel Opera before she was launched on an international career that has now spanned more than two decades. Always particularly renowned for her interpretation of Oktavian in Der Rosenkavalier, this is a role she has not only recorded for EMI with Bernard Haitink, but also performed in Stockholm, Munich, Chicago, Covent Garden and at the Paris Bastille, as well as in Vienna, at the Met and in Japan with the late Carlos Kleiber (the latter available on DVD).
Anne Sofie von Otter has scored many personal successes on the main operatic stages of Europe: Gluck's Orfeo in Geneva was followed by his Alceste at the Chatelet, in an acclaimed staging by Bob Wilson, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner (recorded for both CD and DVD); Paris' Palais Garnier played host to portrayals of Handel's Ariodante as well as Sesto in both Clemenza di Tito and Giulio Cesare and Clairon in the new Robert Carsen production of Strauss' Capriccio. In addition to Oktavian at Vienna's State Opera came the Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos; Nerone in Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea was heard at the Aix-en-Provence Festival, and Ottavia in the same piece at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris, the same venue as for her debut as Handel's Xerxes (recorded by EMI Classics). Another Handel role, Ruggerio in Alcina, marked her return to Stockholm's historic Drottningholm Festival and Glyndebourne Festival was the venue for her stage debut as Carmen in David McVicar's new production, conducted by Philippe Jordan. Most recently, she has added the role of Conception to her repertoire in Ravel's L'Heure Espagnole at the Royal Stockholm Opera, debuted at the Santa Fe Festival as Carmen, conducted by Alan Gilbert and returned to Munich's Bayerische Staatsoper as Gluck's Orphée.
Anne Sofie also enjoys an ongoing relationship with New York's Metropolitan Opera and James Levine where she has over the past years sung numerous performances of Rosenkavalier, Clemenza di Tito and Idomeneo as well as Debussy's Pélleas et Mélisande, marking her stage debut in the role.
An equally busy concert career has taken Anne Sofie von Otter regularly to the major halls of Europe and North America and she enjoys a regular partnership with some of the world's pre-eminent conductors. Also an acclaimed recitalist, she performs around the globe with her accompanist, Bengt Forsberg.
Anne Sofie von Otter's recording relationship with Deutsche Grammophon began in 1985 and she boasts an extensive personal discography: together with Bengt Forsberg, she has made many award-winning Lieder and chamber music recordings (Schubert, Chaminade, Schumann, Korngold, Brahms, Grieg to name a few); with orchestra she has recorded Weill, Mahler, Bach and Zemlinsky (Gardiner), Berlioz and Brahms (Levine), Mozart (Pinnock), Berg, Mahler and a Grammy award-winning Schubert collection (Abbado), Ravel and Mahler (Boulez) and Offenbach (Minkowski). Other recordings for DG have included For the Stars, the award-winning collaboration with the songwriter, arranger and producer, Elvis Costello; and Music for a While, a baroque recital with harpsichord and lute. Anne Sofie von Otter's current release is the long-awaited, I let the Music Speak, a celebration of the music of Benny Andersson/Bjorn Ulvaeus.
Her opera catalogue includes Dorabella with Solti, Monteverdi's Ottavia, Glück's Orfeo as well as Sesto and Idamantes with Gardiner, Cherubino with Levine, Marguérite with Chung, Dido with Pinnock and R Strauss' Composer with Sinopoli. A frequent performer of opera in concert, Anne Sofie has also recorded live Debussy's Mélisande (ON de France/Haitink for Naive); Judith/Bluebeard's Castle (BPO/Haitink for EMI); Charlotte/Werther (Opéra de Lyon/Nagano for Erato); Ariodante, Hercules, Sesto/Giulio Cesare (Musiciens du Louvre/Minkowski) and Baba the Turk/Rake's Progress (LSO/Gardiner) all for DG Archiv.
Anne Sofie von Otter's debut last season as Brangäne in Los Angeles and New York, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen and in a semi-staging by Peter Sellars, was met with enormous audience and critical success with other season highlights including Bluebeard's Castle with Levine in Boston and Carnegie Hall, and Ravel's Shéherézade in Paris and Vienna with Chung.
The current season sees Anne Sofie von Otter's debut as Didon in the Kokkos staging of Les Troyens at Geneva Opera as well as a new Orphée in Stockholm with Mats Ek and Lully's Thesée with Emanuelle Haim at Paris' Theatre des Champs-Elysees. Concert and recital commitments take Anne Sofie von Otter throughout Europe and America, and in May 2008 she will be in residency at Vienna's Musikverein including orchestral concerts with Philippe Jordan.