Swedish citizen Barbara Hendricks was born in Stephens, Arkansas and studied at the Juilliard School of Music (New York) with Jennie Tourel, after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and chemistry at the age of 20.
In 1974 she made her operatic and recital débuts and since that moment Barbara Hendricks’ career and artistry has never ceased to grow; she has become one of the world’s most loved and admired musicians. She has sung in the major opera houses, concerts halls and festivals in the world, under the direction of the greatest conductors such as Herbert van Karajan, Leonard Bernstein and Carlo Maria Guilini.
One of the most active recitalists of her generation, she is known not just for her vast repertoire of German Lieder but as a leading interpreter and promoter of French, American and Scandinavian music, performing in recital and chamber music with pianists such as Leif Ove Andsnes, Daniel Barenboim, Michel Béroff, Yefim Bronfman, Michel Dalberto, Love Derwinger, Youri Egorov, Ralf Gothóni, Radu Lupu, Maria João Pires and Roland Pöntinen.
She made her jazz début at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1994 and has since then performed regularly in renowned jazz festivals throughout the world with the Magnus Lindgren Quartet. One of today’s best selling recording artists, she has made more than 80 recordings, and in 2006 launched her own record label, Arte Verum, for which she is now recording exclusively.
After nearly 20 years of untiring service to the cause of refugees with the UN Refugee Agency, she has been named the only Honorary Ambassador for Life by the UNHCR. She also founded in 1998 the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation. She has received numerous awards for her artistic achievements and humanitarian work and is a Member of the Swedish Academy of Music.
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Barbara Hendricks
