Universally acknowledged as one of the greatest singers of our time, Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen has been described as “a one-in-a-million voice” and regularly performs at all the major international opera houses, festivals and concert halls.
Having taken a break to start a family, Davidsen is set to return in early 2026 with a much anticipated role debut as the formidable Isolde Tristan und Isolde in new prodcutions designed for her at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona and the Metropolitan Opera in New York under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Other highlights include a concert performance of Verdi’s Macbeth at the Royal Danish Theatre with Sir Antonio Pappano, her return to the Broadstage Theatre in Santa Monica, and a Schubert recital tour with James Baillieu which includes the Carnegie Hall, Bergen International Festival and the Wigmore Hall as part of their 125th Year Anniversary.
One of the most in demand stars today and multifaceted artist, Davidsen regularly performs at some of the biggest concert venues around the world including her star performance at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in 2023 which was broadcasted live on BBC 1 which reached millions around the world, the much coveted Summer Night Concert in Vienna together with the Wiener Philharmoniker and Andris Nelsons in front of an audience of over 100,000 people and a sold out solo recital on the stage of Metropolitan Opera. she regularly performs with orchestras such as Orchestre de Paris, Wiener Philharmoniker, Oslo Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra; Berliner Philharmoniker and Berliner Staatskapelle to just name a few and is a dedicated recitalist. She has held artistic residencies at the Barbican in London, Bergen International Festival and with the Bergen Philhamornic Orchestra.
Recent successes include Leonore Fidelio at the Metropolitan Opera, and Tosca at Vienna Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper, Staatsoper Berlin and Metropolitan Opera.
“She sounded like Tosca as she should be: at first optimistic, even naïve, then distressed and desperate. Davidsen’s ‘Vissi d’arte’ was one of the most moving things I’ve heard at the Met so far this season.” New York Times
“The outstanding Wagner soprano of her generation” (Financial Times), Davidsen has scored triumphs as Sieglinde Die Walküre, Elisabeth Tannhäuser, Eva Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and Senta Der fliegende Holländer. Other signature roles include Strauss’s Ariadne Ariadne auf Naxos, Marschallin Der Rosenkavalier, Salome and Chrysothemis Elektra; Elisabeth Don Carlos, Tosca, Giorgetta Il Tabarro, Ellen Orford Peter Grimes, Jenufa and Lisa Queen of Spades.
“Phenomenal…Hers is a great voice, superbly controlled and beautifully equalised throughout its range.” Guardian
Concert appearances in the last few seasons have included her first performance as Wagner’s Isolde singing Act II with Simon Rattle and the Bayerische Rundfunk; debut recitals at the Broadstage Theater in Los Angeles, Salzburg Easter Festival and the Gstaad Festival; Last Night of the BBC Proms; a sold out solo recital on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera; the much coveted Summer Night Concert in Vienna with the Wiener Philharmoniker and Andris Nelsons in front of an audience of over 100,000 people; her Carnegie Hall debut with Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Davidsen burst onto the international stage in 2015 winning multiple prizes at the Operalia, Queen Sonja and Hans Gabor Belvedere competitions. These were swiftly followed by triumphant debuts at the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Ballet & Opera Covent Garden, Teatro Alla Scala Milan, Bayerische Staatsoper, Wiener Staatsoper, and the Aix-en-Provence, Bayreuth and Glyndebourne Festivals. These houses, and many others, extended invitations to Davidsen to return for consecutive seasons – including three productions in one season at the Metropolitan Opera and two at the Bayreuth Festival.
An exclusive Decca Artist, Davidsen’s discography includes Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer; solo orchestral recitals, Strauss arias and the Four Lost Songs, a Grieg song recital with Leif Ove Andsnes and the best-selling Christmas Album. Other recordings include Der Freischütz and Fidelio for Pentatone, and Sibelius’ Luonnotar on Chandos. Filmed performances include Ortlinde Die Walküre and Fidelio from the Royal Ballet & Opera, Elisabeth Tannhäuser filmed at the Bayreuth Festival and the Grammy nominated Concert for Ukraine with the Metropolitan Opera.
Born and raised in Stokke, Norway, Davidsen has been profiled in a full-length documentary for NRK, a Strauss film for the Norwegian National Opera as well as appearing on major radio and television programmes such as NPR. As well as frequent performances across the country, Oslo was the setting for her performance as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s Met Stars Live in Concert which was live-streamed internationally.
