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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Anne-Sofie von Otter - The Artist's Album
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Summer's Day - Swedish Romantic Songs
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by BIS on 5 Jun 2012
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Geistliche Arien
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Watercolours . Swedish Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stenhammar: Symphony No. 2, Excelsior!, Reveranza & 2 Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Paavo Järvi
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 Jan 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann Gold
Bryn Terfel, Anne Sofie von Otter, Christoph Eschenbach, Maurizio Pollini
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Berg: Three Orchestral Pieces
Anne Sofie von Otter, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1995
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wings in the Night: Swedish Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Boldemann / Gefors / Hillborg
Anne Sofie von Otter, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Kent Nagano
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gluck : Iphigénie en Aulide [Highlights] (- Apex)
Classical - Released by Warner Classics International on 1 May 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas with Anne Sofie von Otter
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 14 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sir Georg Solti: A Celebration
Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovich, Angela Gheorghiu, Anne Sofie von Otter, Maxim Vengerov, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 30 Oct 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wings In The Night: Swedish Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peterson-Berger: Same-Ätnam - Gullebarns vaggsånger - Romans för violin och orkester
Anne Sofie von Otter, Mats Zetterqvist, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Siegfried Köhler
Classical - Released by Musica Sveciae on 1 Jan 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Watercolours
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Moderne Klassiker: Gesang
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
Anne Sofie von Otter, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Classical - Released by LSO Live on 8 Aug 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sebastian Fagerlund: Höstsonaten
Opera - Released by BIS on 5 Oct 2018
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Songs, Vol. 1
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by BIS on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Songs, Op. 13, 50, 90, and Others
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by BIS on 31 Oct 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Great Mass in C Minor "Grosse Messe"
Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, Anne Sofie von Otter, Uwe Heilmann, René Pape, Sir Georg Solti, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo