Sophie Harmsen
BIOGRAPHY
She studied at the University of Cape Town and with Prof. Dr. E. Wiens. Now, she is an internationally successful and acclaimed mezzosoprano.
Concerts and opera productions have enabled her to experience some of the world’s most beautiful concert halls and opera houses such as Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Teatro Real in Madrid, Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, Wigmore Hall in London, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus Wien, Philharmonie de Paris, Shanghai Grand Theatre and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.
She is frequently invited to perform with many important symphony orchestras such as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, SWR Symphonieorchester, Deutsches Symphonie Orchester, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National de Paris, musicAeterna, Konzerthausorchester Berlin or NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, among others.
In the past years Sophie has continually extended her repertoire. After numerous concerts, solo recitals and CD recordings with some of the most celebrated baroque ensembles she is also interpreting romantic repertoires. Many of her CD recordings have received awards, for example, Bruckner’s Missa Solemnis with the RIAS Kammerchor (Diapason d’Or) and the complete recording of J.S. Bach’s Luther Kantaten with C. Spering (Echo 2017).
Harmsen is a frequent performer at international festivals. In the coming season she will offer concerts with Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and Collegium Vocale Gent both under the baton of P. Herreweghe, with Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España and D. Afkham as well as with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and S. Mas.