ZANDA ŠVĒDE

B i o g r a p h y

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Latvian mezzo-soprano Zanda Švēde has been praised for her “lush timber” (Münchener Merkur) and “full-bodied, sensuous voice and arresting presence” (Post Gazette). Her 2023/2004 season includes role debut as Cornelia in Giulio Cesare at Oper Frankfurt, where she is an ensemble member, performing Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and returning to Tiroler Festspiele Erl for a full Ring Cycle in the summer, directed by Brigitte Fassbaender.

 

Zanda’s 2022/2023 season included role debut as Clairon in Capriccio, Nenila in Tschaikovsky’s The Enchantress, the title role of Handel's Orlando in a new production and roles Forester's wife and Owl in The Cunning Little Vixen at her home company Oper Frankfurt. Further engagements included role debuts as Erda in Siegfried and Waltraute in Göterdammerung at Tiroler Festspiele, and a return to Latvian National Opera in title role of Carmen.

 

Carmen has become one of Zanda's signature roles, which she debuted at Lyric Opera of Kansas City and has performed with Oper Frankfurt in two revivals of Barry Kosky’s production, Seattle Opera, Latvian National Opera and Pittsburgh Opera, earning stellar reviews.