Barbara Hölzl (Mezzo-soprano)

Born: Bad Tolz, Germany

The German mezzo-soprano, Barbara Hölzl, graduated in singing from the Richard Strauss conservatory in Munich with Helmut Banzhaf and studied at the College of Music and Applied Arts in Vienna, where she graduated with merit and was awarded the commendatory prize of the Republic of Austria. While studying further with Kammersänger Josef Metternich, she took part in master-classes with Hans Hotter and James King, winning third prize in 1993 at the Robert Schumann Competition in Zwickau; in 1996 she was a finalist at the International Singing Competition in s'Hertogenbosch.

Barbara Hölzl has performed in numerous operas in Germany and Austria, such as at the Schlosstheater in Schönbrunn in Vienna, the Junge Oper in Vienna (followed by a Japanese tour), at the Wien Modern Festival and the Bruckner Festival in Linz. Guest engagements have taken her to the Stadttheater in Bremen and the Theater Basel in Switzerland.

Barbara Hölzl's concert appearances have taken her with famous orchestras, under well-known conductors such as Rudolf Barshai, Erwin Ortner, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Peter Schreier, Bruno Weil, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Sigiswald Kuijken, Wolfgang Sawallisch and Dmitry Kitayenko, to many European countries, South America, the USA and Japan. The mezzo-soprano has appeared as a guest of renowned festivals such as the Salzburg Festival, the International Bruckner Festival in Linz, the Schubertiade in Feldkirch, Wien Modern, the Vienna Festival, the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, the Prague Spring event and the Ludwigsburg Festival.

Source: Liner notes to the CD ‘J.S. Bach: Festmusiken für das Kurfürstlich-Sächsische Haus’ conducted by Heinz Hennig (Ars Musici, 2000)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2002)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Heinz Hennig

Alto

BWV 213, BWV 214

Carlos Kalmar

Alto

BWV 248/1-3

Links to other Sites

Barbara Hölzl – Contralto (Sintow Behrens)
Barbara Hölzl - Alt (Matthäuspassion 2000) (Oratorienchor der Stadt Bern) [German]
Barbara Hölzl - Alt (Schubert As-dur-Messe 1997) (Oratorienchor der Stadt Bern) [German]

Barbara Hölzl – Mezzosopran (R&B Artists) [German/English]
Barbara Hölzl, mezzo soprano (Festival Mozart) [French]
Ein Maskenball: Barbara Hölzl als Ulrica [German]
Barbara & Ralph (Virtual Volume) [German]
Musique Sacrée – November 2001 (Festival Mozart) [French]