JENNY CARLSTEDT

Biography

Finnish-Swedish mezzo-soprano Jenny Carlstedt is widely recognised for her versatile repertoire spanning Mozart, Strauss and Wagner as well as contemporary opera. Born in the Åland Islands, she studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. After fourteen years as a member of the ensemble at Oper Frankfurt (2002–2016), she has established herself as an internationally active freelance artist performing across Europe.

In the current season Carlstedt returns to Dutch National Opera to sing the leading role of Lise in Mieczysław Weinberg’s Die Passagierin. Recent highlights also include the role of Priest Katherine in the world premiere of Sebastian Fagerlund’s opera The Morning Star, written especially for her, and international performances of The Waitress (Tereza) in Kaija Saariaho’s Innocence, most recently at the Adelaide Festival.

Carlstedt is a regular guest at the Finnish National Opera and has appeared with leading European houses including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Theater an der Wien, Staatsoper Hamburg and the Danish Royal Opera. Contemporary repertoire forms an important part of her work, with appearances in productions such as Peter Eötvös’ Angels in America, Thomas Adès’ The Tempest and numerous world premieres of Nordic works.

As a concert singer she performs widely in major orchestral and oratorio repertoire. In 2016 she made her US debut as Mélisande (Pelléas et Mélisande) with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Esa-Pekka Salonen, and in 2023 she appeared at the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo in Mahler’s Third Symphony.

Photo credits
Marcus Boman Photography