Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano

An ever-evolving repertoire has played a key role in sustaining Swedish mezzo soprano Anne Sofie von Otter’s international profile, from the superlative Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier) of her generation, to her acclaimed creation of Leonora in the world premiere of Thomas Adès’ The Exterminating Angel at Salzburger Festspiele and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Recent highlights include Madame de Croissy (Dialogues des Carmélites) at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro) in Christof Loy’s production at Bayerische Staatsoper, L’Opinion Publique (Orphée aux Enfers) at Salzburger Festspiele, Mérope (Oedipe) at Opéra National de Paris, and Charlotte Andergast in the world premiere of Sebastian Fagerlund’s Höstsonaten for Finnish National Opera. Recent seasons have seen role debuts as the Countess (Pique Dame) at La Monnaie under Nathalie Stutzmann, Adelaide (Arabella) at Teatro Real under David Afkham and Gaby in the world premiere of Mikael Karlsson’s Melancholia at Royal Swedish Opera.
Equally recognised as a concert and recital singer of exceptional gifts, von Otter has excelled in works by Mahler, Berlioz, Bach and Kurt Weill, and her expansive Lieder recordings range from classics by Schubert, Schumann, Wolf and Mahler, through lesser-known compilations from Cécile Chaminade, Korngold, Peterson-Bergen and Stenhammar.
This season, von Otter performs Mikael Karlsson’s song cycle, And so we will vanish with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, both conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste. She creates the role of Justine in Karlsson’s Fanny and Alexander in its world premiere at La Monnaie conducted by Ariane Matiakh and appears in the world premiere of Philippe Manoury’s new work Die letzten Tage den Menschheit at Oper Köln.
An exclusive relationship with Deutsche Grammophon produced a wealth of acclaimed recordings, including the Grammy-winning Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn with Claudio Abbado, Handel’s Ariodante, Giulio Cesare and Hercules with Marc Minkowski and a collaboration with pop legend Elvis Costello on For the Stars. On Naïve Classique, her double CD of Mélodies and Chansons, Douce France, received the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.

Bengt Forsberg, pianist

Bengt Forsberg studied at the Gothenburg School of Music and Musicology, where he first majored in organ, whereafter, in 1978, he received his diploma as piano soloist.

Although he often appears as soloist with major symphony orchestras in Sweden and Scandinavia, much of his renown is focused on his work as a chamber musician, both in Sweden and abroad – as soloist as well as together with other prominent instrumentalists, such as cellist Andreas Brantelid and violinists Cecilia Zilliacus and Pekka Kuusisto. His collaboration with mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter has been particularly successful and they regularly perform all over the world. They have also made many joint recordings for Deutsche Grammophon and Naïve, which have received great international acclaim. In latter years they also give joint masterclasses around the world.

Mr. Forsberg´s repertoire is exceptionally wide and he has become particularly renowned for playing unknown music by well-known composers as well as for exploring lesser-known and unjustly neglected composers, such as Medtner, Korngold, Manziarly and Grainger. He is also music director of a Chamber Music Series and Festival in Stockholm.

He is regularly invited to numerous Festivals in the Nordic countries as well as in Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and India. Future invitations include Britain, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany and, of course, various sites in Sweden.