Norwegian soprano Marianne Hirsti studied singing in Oslo and Lübeck. She has performed in many of the great opera houses, with fest positions in Hamburg, Essen, Cologne and Stuttgart, and as a guest in Berlin, Brussels, Oslo, and at festivals in Edinburgh, Helsinki, Russia and Japan, finding particular success with Mozart’s lighter roles, including Susanna, Pamina and Zerlina. Her discography includes operatic performances with period instruments: Keiser’s Die grossmüthige Tomyris with the Linde Consort (EMI), and Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Blondchen) with Christopher Hogwood and The Academy of Ancient Music (Decca).
In concert repertoire encompassing both early and contemporary music, and ranging from oratorio to Scandinavian art song, she has appeared with all the Norwegian symphony orchestras, the Helsinki Radio Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, and orchestras in Germany, Austria, Spain and Portugal. She visited Minnesota (Minneapolis’ Central Lutheran Church and St. Olaf College in Northfield) in 2005, performing Trond Kverno’s St. Matthew’s Passion with the Oslo Cathedral Choir and a stellar cast of international soloists; and under the aegis of the Grieg Society in two Minneapolis recitals with pianist Sonja Thompson last year.
With pianist Rudolf Jansen, Ms. HIrsti has performed recitals in London, Paris, Copenhagen, Padua and Hamburg, as well as at chamber music festivals throughout Scandinavia and Europe. Their partnership has led to several recordings, including the award-winning series (on the Victoria label) of the complete songs of Edvard Grieg, and it is Grieg with whom she is most closely associated in the hearts of the public.
Ms. Hirsti currently lives in Boston, where she performs music of the Renaissance with Duo Maresienne, but is presently concentrating on recitals of Scandinavian music. In celebration of the Grieg Jubilee Year this fall, she will participate in several Grieg recitals sponsored by Boston University, and will give master classes in Grieg’s songs at Boston University and Boston Conservatory.
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