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Anne Sofie von Otter

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Anne Sofie von Otter, born on 9 May 1955 in Stockholm, is a Swedish mezzo-soprano. Her father was a diplomat in Berlin during the Second World War, and she grew up in Bonn, London and Stockholm. She studied in Stockholm and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. From 1983 to 1985 she sang at the Basel Opera, where she made her debut as Alcina in Haydn's Orlando paladino. Covent Garden followed in 1985, La Scala in 1987 and in 1988 the Metropolitan Opera as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro.

Music and breakthrough

Her repertoire includes song, opera, oratorio, and even rock and pop. Her recording of songs by Grieg won the Gramophone Record of the Year in 1993, the first time a song recording received that prize. In 2001 she made the album For the Stars with Elvis Costello. In 2007 she recorded music by composers who were imprisoned in the Theresienstadt ghetto, with Christian Gerhaher. Her father had tried during the war to spread information about the extermination camps. For the album Douce France she received a Grammy in 2015.

Influence

Von Otter played Leonora in the world premiere of Thomas Adès's The Exterminating Angel in 2016. She often works with the pianist Bengt Forsberg. Her work shows that a classical singer from the concert platform can also feel at home in pop and contemporary music.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Dido and Aeneas or Messiah with Von Otter and notice her clear, warm mezzo. Try to hear how she makes the text sound natural.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists