Anne Sofie von Otter
The Swedish mezzo soprano Anne Sofie von Otter is among the most versatile singers on today's scene, recording and performing opera of various eras and in various languages, art song, oratorio, rock, pop, and jazz. As a song recitalist, collaborating with pianist Bengt Forsberg, she has specialized in unusual and original programming. Von Otter was born in Stockholm on May 9, 1955. Her father was a Swedish diplomat, and her childhood was divided among stints in several countries; she mastered multiple languages as a child. Von Otter enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, studying with Vera Rosza, Erik Werba, and Geoffrey Parsons. Joining the cast of the Basel Opera in 1983, she made her debut as Alcina in Haydn's Orlando Paladino and singing several "pants" roles including the title role in Rossini's Tancredi. For a time, von Otter specialized in 18th century opera, including the muscular opera seria heroine roles that were just starting to become popular at the end of the 20th century. After multiple audition attempts, von Otter also landed a place in the stable of singers associated with conductor John Eliot Gardiner, performing and recording such works as Handel's Jephtha, Bach's Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, and St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, and Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K. 626. Von Otter has performed at La Scala in Milan, Covent Garden in London, and other major European opera houses. With Bengt Forsberg she has released critically acclaimed recitals such as Terezin/Theresienstadt (2007) featuring music written by composers being held in concentration camps. Her artistic scope has only grown as she has aged; in 2016 she joined with the experimental ensemble Brooklyn Rider for a recital of works by composers ranging from Elvis Costello (with whom she had already released a duet album) to Björk, Nico Muhly, Kate Bush, and jazz pianist Brad Mehldau, with whom she recorded the album Love Songs in 2010. She has also recorded mainstream Romantic lieder repertory as well as Swedish art songs. Von Otter released A Simple Song, with Forsberg on the organ, on Sweden's BIS label in late 2018.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Vivaldi: Concertos, Aria, Sonata
Daniel Hope, Anne Sofie von Otter, The Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gluck: Alceste
Anne Sofie von Otter, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Simple Song
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by BIS on Nov 1, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
La Bonne Chanson - French Chamber Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Zemlinsky: Lieder
Barbara Bonney, Anne Sofie von Otter, Andreas Schmidt, Hans Peter Blochwitz, Cord Garben
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven / Meyerbeer / Spohr: Lieder
Anne Sofie von Otter, Melvyn Tan
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on Jan 1, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg: Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on Jan 1, 1993
Gramophone Record of the Year16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Songs and Chamber Music
Classical - Released by Caprice on Jan 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Home For Christmas
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jun 15, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Offenbach: Arias
Anne Sofie von Otter, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Art of Anne Sofie von Otter
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Sep 5, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lamenti
Anne Sofie von Otter, Musica Antiqua Köln , Reinhard Goebel
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on Jan 1, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Noel
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Oct 11, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music for a While
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on Jan 1, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg: Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1993
Gramophone Record of the Year16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann: Frauenliebe und -Leben, Op.42; 5 Lieder, Op. 40; Ausgewählte Lieder
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I let the music speak
Pop - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas with Anne Sofie von Otter
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Dec 14, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anne Sofie von Otter: Songs from around the World
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Jan 12, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bryn Terfel, Keith Lewis, Victor von Halem, Philharmonia Orchestra, Myung-Whun Chung
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Korngold: Songs and Chamber Music
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo