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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Handel: Marian Cantatas And Arias
Anne Sofie von Otter, Musica Antiqua Köln , Reinhard Goebel
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1994
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn
Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Quasthoff, Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Tapiola, En saga & Songs
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Christoffer Sundqvist, Anne Sofie von Otter, Hannu Lintu, Ilari Angervo
Classical - Released by Ondine on 13 Oct 2017
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Love Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Brad Mehldau
Classical - Released by naïve classique on 11 Oct 2010
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4; Alto-Rhapsody; Tragic Overture
Anne Sofie von Otter, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Arnold Schönberg Chor, James Levine
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ravel: Shéhérazade, Le Tombeau de Couperin / Debussy: Danses, 3 Ballades de Villon
Anne Sofie von Otter, Alison Hagley, The Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gluck / Haydn / Mozart - Opera Arias
Anne Sofie von Otter, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
For The Stars
Anne Sofie von Otter, Elvis Costello
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bernstein: Candide
Marin Alsop, London Symphony Orchestra, Leonardo Capalbo, Jane Archibald, Anne Sofie von Otter, Sir Thomas Allen
Opera - Released by LSO Live on 15 Oct 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Naïve Essentials
Classical - Released by naïve classique on 1 Sep 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 3
Anne Sofie von Otter, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Orchestrated Songs
Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Quasthoff, The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anne Sofie von Otter - in my element
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Songs of a Wayfarer; 5 Rückert-Lieder - Zemlinsky: Six Songs to Poems by Maurice Maeterlinck
Art Songs, Mélodies & Lieder - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Song Cycles
Violeta Urmana, Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Quasthoff
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Berlioz: Les Nuits d'éte; Mélodies
Anne Sofie von Otter, Berliner Philharmoniker, James Levine
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Weill: Speak Low
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Lieder
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg, Swedish Radio Choir, Gunnar Anderson
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1997
16-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 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Terezín / Theresienstadt : Oeuvres de Hans Krasa, Viktor Ullmann, Pavel Haas, Erwin Schulhoff, etc.
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg, Christian Gerhaher, Daniel Hope
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Lieder
Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg, Nils-Erik Sparf
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo