Anne Sofie von Otter

Anne Sofie von Otter, born on May 9, 1955, in Stockholm, Sweden, is an acclaimed mezzo-soprano celebrated for her diverse repertoire that spans lieder, operas, oratorios, and even popular music genres. The daughter of Göran von Otter, a Swedish diplomat during World War II, she spent her formative years in Bonn, London, and Stockholm. She honed her musical skills at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she studied under Vera Rózsa. Von Otter gained recognition early in her career, securing second place at the ARD International Music Competition in 1982.

Her professional operatic debut took place at the Basel Opera from 1983 to 1985, where she portrayed Alcina in Haydn's *Orlando paladino*. She subsequently graced prestigious stages, including the Royal Opera House in 1985 and La Scala in 1987, before debuting at the Metropolitan Opera in December 1988 as Cherubino in *The Marriage of Figaro*.

Among her notable achievements, von Otter received the 1993 Gramophone Record of the Year for her recording of Grieg's songs, marking a first for a song recording. She won an Edison Award in 2001 for her collaboration with Elvis Costello on *For the Stars*, and a Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo in 2015 for *Douce France*.

In addition to her operatic roles, von Otter has performed contemporary works, including the world premiere of Thomas Adès' *The Exterminating Angel* in 2016 and the principal role in Sebastian Fagerlund's *Autumn Sonata* in 2017. Her personal life was marked by her marriage to Benny Fredriksson, until his tragic passing in 2018. Today, she resides in Stockholm and continues to leave her mark on the music world.