Biography
Latvian mezzo-soprano Zanda Švēde has been praised for her “lush timbre” (Münchener Merkur) and her “full-bodied, sensuous voice and arresting presence” (Post-Gazette). Since 2018, she has been a member of the Oper Frankfurt ensemble. In 2025, she was awarded the Grand Latvian Music Prize in recognition of her outstanding artistic achievements and exceptional performances throughout the year.
Highlights of the 2026/2027 season include performances of Brahms's Alto Rhapsody and the world premiere of Eric Montalbetti's Fragments pour une messe at the Festival La Chaise-Dieu in France with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. On the concert stage, she also performs Mahler's Symphony No. 2 with the Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester under the baton of Thomas Guggeis and Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde with the Tiroler Symphonieorchester Innsbruck.
On the operatic stage, Zanda returns to the Latvian National Opera and Ballet in the title role of Carmen and as Herodias in Salome, while making her role debut as Amneris in Aida. At her home company, Oper Frankfurt, she makes role debuts as Zarin in Rimsky-Korsakov's The Night Before Christmas, Sabina in Respighi's La fiamma, and the Mother of the Murder Victim in the world premiere of Lucia Ronchetti's Battaglia. She also returns to the roles of Erda in Rheingold and Herodias in Salome at Oper Frankfurt. In addition, she reprises the recital Bright Night with pianist Reinis Zariņš at Foundation Ola.
During the 2025/2026 season, Zanda appeared as Cornelia in Giulio Cesare and the title role in Carmen in Barry Kosky's acclaimed production at Oper Frankfurt, and made role debuts as Vlasta in Die Passagierin and Leonardo's Wife in Bluthochzeit. She also returned to the Latvian National Opera and Ballet as Carmen and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. Her concert engagements included Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and Waldtaube in Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder at Liepājas Dzintars Concert Hall. Together with pianist Reinis Zariņš, she presented two solo recitals.
Recent highlights include Herodias in Salome, Cornelia in Giulio Cesare, Sonjetka in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Maddalena in Rigoletto, and acclaimed role debuts as the Pythia in Aribert Reimann's Melusine, Clairon in Capriccio, Eduige in Handel's Rodelinda, Nenila in Tchaikovsky's The Enchantress, the title role in Handel's Orlando, at Oper Frankfurt. Zanda also made notable role debuts as Erda in Rheinglod and Siegfried, and Waltraute in Götterdämmerung at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl, where she appeared in the complete Ring cycle under the direction of Brigitte Fassbaender.
Carmen has become one of Zanda's signature roles. Following her debut at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, she has performed the role with Oper Frankfurt in Barry Kosky's celebrated production, Seattle Opera, the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, and Pittsburgh Opera to widespread critical acclaim.
At Oper Frankfurt, her repertoire also includes the title role in Serse, Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Zenobia in Radamisto, and Dryade in Ariadne auf Naxos.
An equally sought-after concert artist, Zanda continues to expand her mezzo-soprano and alto repertoire. Her performances include Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Symphony No. 8, and Das Lied von der Erde; Beethoven's Missa solemnis and Symphony No. 9; Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder; Bernstein's Mass; Bruckner's Te Deum; Brahms's Alto Rhapsody; and Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder, with orchestras including the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester, the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Camerata Salzburg, and Sinfonietta Rīga. She has also appeared at the Jūrmala Festival Gala and in the concert Born in Latvia, and regularly collaborates with pianist Reinis Zariņš in recitals.
As a young artist Zanda participated Merola Opera Program in 2013 and after that became an Adler Fellow in San Francisco Opera in Season 2014-15 and remained for two more seasons. She appeared on the main stage as Flora in La traviata, Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Lena in the world premiere of Marco Tutino’s Two Women, Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor, Rychtarka in Jenůfa, Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Maid in The Makropoulos Case, and Handmaiden/The Flower in the world premiere of Bright Sheng’s Dream of the Red Chamber.
Other principal guest highlights in the US include Zanda's debut at Palm Beach Opera as Suzuki and Olga in Eugene Onegin at Opera Idaho. She made her house debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago as Maddalena in Rigoletto and Grimgerde in Die Walküre. Zanda studied at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in Rīga.
