(*1973)
Magdalena Kožená, a world-renowned mezzo-soprano who performs on the world’s leading stages. The recipient of several major prizes in Czechia and around the world, she came to prominence at the Sixth International Mozart Competition in Salzburg which she won in 1995. She was signed as an exclusive artist by Deutsche Grammophon in 1999. Her recital debut recording was an album of songs by Czech composers Dvořák, Janáček and Martinů, winning her Gramophone’s Solo Vocal Award in 2001. She has worked with the world’s leading conductors, pianists and orchestras. In recent seasons, she has developed a series of projects that have toured widely in Europe and Asia, highlighting her artistry and diversity. They include concerts with a swing ensemble, but also flamenco and the music of the Spanish Baroque era. Magdalena Kožená was appointed a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2003. In 2015, she founded an endowment fund to support primary art schools. Her husband is conductor Sir Simon Rattle, with whom she has three children.