Biography
Having been hailed for exceptional expressive abilities, South African soprano Johanni van Oostrum is in demand as interpreter of leading roles in operas by Strauss, Wagner and Janáček. She has performed under conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Alan Gilbert, Ivor Bolton, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bertrand de Billy, Adam Fisher, Asher Fisch, Lothar Koenigs, Henrik Nánási, Stefan Soltesz, Antonello Manacorda, Oksana Lyniv, Laurence Equilbey and directors such as Harry Kupfer, Barrie Kosky, Tobias Kratzer, Francois Girard, Kirill Serebrennikov and Vera Nemirova.
Ms. Van Oostrum recently made a strong impression at the Bavarian State Opera as Elsa in Kornél Mundruczó’s Lohengrin, conducted by François-Xavier Roth. This role also took her to the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the Tokyo Spring Festival 2022, the Hessische Staatstheater Wiesbaden and others.
Upcoming engagements are Chrysothemis in Elektra in Hamburg under the baton of Kent Nagano, Eva in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Tokyo Spring Festival 2023 under Marek Janowski, the title role of Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák in Amsterdam and Agathe in Freischütz at the Semperoper in Dresden.
The Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier has become a signature role which she sang at Vienna State Opera under the baton of Philippe Jordan, at the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, at the Royal Swedish Opera conducted by Alan Gilbert, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Komische Oper Berlin, Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar and the Estonian National Opera.
Highlights have included Elisabeth in Tannhäuser at Opera de Lyon, the title role in Richard Strauss’ Salome at Oper Graz, her debut as Leonore in a concert performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio conducted by Adam Fischer, her role debut as Janáček’s Jenůfa at Konzert Theater Bern, Marietta in Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt with Opéra de Limoges, Agathe in Weber’s Der Freischütz which was received with enthousiasm at the Barbican Centre in London, Aix-en-Provence, Théâtre des Champs- Élysées in Paris, the BOZAR in Brussels, Theater an der Wien, Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, Grand Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg and was recorded live in Paris and released by Warner Classics and Erato on CD and DVD, she reprized the role at the Dutch National Opera in a staging by Kirill Serebrennikov. She also sang Countess Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Grete in Schreker’s Der Ferne Klang at Oper Graz, Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes at the Hessische Staatstheater in Wiesbaden, the title role in Janáček’s Katja Kabanova at the Janacek Festival in Brno and at the Hessische Staatstheater in Wiesbaden.
In concert Johanni van Oostrum has joined Jonas Kaufmann’s “Mein Wien” Concert tour in Nuremberg, Hamburg and Düsseldorf. She has performed on numerous occasions with the Staatskapelle Weimar, interpreting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, orchestral songs by Richard Strauss, and Beethoven’s „Ah! Perfido“ conducted by Bertrand de Billy. She performed Strauss’ Four Last Songs with the Staatskapelle Weimar in Bayreuth and at the Al Bustan Festival in Beirut. As a concert soloist she is often heard in the Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem, the Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s Elias, the Lyric Symphony by Zemlinsky, Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa da Requiem and as interpreter of songs by Richard Strauss and South African composers.
Born in South Africa, Ms. Van Oostrum is a graduate of the University of Pretoria. She received vocal training from Dr. Mimi Coertse and was a member of the Black Tie Opera. She received first prize at the Erna Spoorenberg Dutch Vocal Competition and she was awarded the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award in 2018 for Best Female Performance. In 2019 her high school alma mater honoured her with an Achievements in Performing Arts Award.
December 2022 – For the most recent biography, please contact agentur@hilbert.de