'Barbara Kozelj impressed with her powerful, impeccably intonated mezzo-soprano and her committed acting. Rarely is the role of Brangäne performed with such emotional depth and credible interaction.' Online Merker
Slovenian mezzosoprano Barbara Kozelj has firmly established herself as a charismatic and hugely versatile artist. Her voice and performances have been described as "thrillingly beautiful," "deep and powerful," "breathtaking," "deeply expressive," and "straight to the heart." Equally at home in opera, concert, and recital repertoire, her performances have brought her to leading international stages and continue to captivate audiences around the world.
Recent opera engagements include Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier) and Mélisande (Pelleas et Mélisande) with Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra and Jun Märkl in Taipei, Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde) at Leipzig Oper, Wagner22 and at Teatro de la Maestranza in Sevilla, Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle) with NJO and Antony Hermus and Penelope (Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria) with the Academy of Ancient Music and Richard Egarr at London’s Barbican Hall.
Barbara is in great demand as a concert soloist. After her debut with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and her Carnegie Hall debut her carreer has taken flight. Her recent highlights include Berg's Sieben frühe Lieder with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and Respighi's Il Tramonto with Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife conducted by Antony Hermus, Canteloube's Chants d’Auvergne with Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Bas Wiegers in Ljubljana and Ligeti's Requiem with Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de Espagna and David Afkham.
This season, she return to Wigmore hall for the performances of Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Zemlinsky 6 Songs to Poems by Maurice Maeterlinck and Schönberg Pierrot Lunaire with Klangforum Wien and Vimbayi Kaziboni, and to perform her beloved Mahler Das Lied von der Erde with Camerata RCO (members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) later this year. Future concerts also include Winterreise with Nino Gvetadze in Amsterdam, Frauenliebe und Leben with Richard Egarr in Namur, Haydn Ariadna a Naxos with Shunske Sato and Mathew Passsion with Phion and Residentie Orchestra.
Barbara has collaborated with conductors including Iván Fischer, Jaap van Zweden, Jun Märkl, Henrik Nánási, Stefan Soltesz, Richard Egarr, Neeme Järvi, David Afkham, Paul McCreesh, Kenneth Montgomery, Reinbert de Leeuw, Bas Wiegers, Antony Hermus, Otto Tausk and with orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Academy of Ancient Music, Gabrieli Consort and Players, Athen’s State Orchestra, Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona, Orquesta y coro nacionales de Espagna, St Luke’s orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and most of the Dutch orchestras.
Her versatility has also attracted the attention of many composers who have written works speciffically for her. She has sung world premieres of compositions written by Thomas Beijer, Jan van de Putte, Max Knigge and Oscar Bettison. She has a strong affinity with Lieder, regularly performing recitals with Julius Drake, Thomas Beijer, Phyllis Ferwerda and Nino Gvetadze.
The foundation for her musical development was established in Slovenia, where she graduated from the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. She later continued her studies and graduated from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. She was a member of The New Opera Academy and the Dutch Opera Studio. Barbara has been coached by Marcos Bajuk, Irena Baar, Phyllis Ferwerda, Meinard Kraak, Ann Murray, Graciela Araya, Anne Sofie von Otter and continues to study with Sasja Hunnego, who has been her mentor and vocal coach throughout her carreer.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Past & Future Events
All
Only Past Events
Only Future Events
february 2025
16feb19:30Mahler & Zemlinsky Lieder at Wigmore hallKlangforum Wien and Vimbayi Kaziboni
Event Details
Arnold Schoenberg 1874-1951 3 Stücke Op. 11 (arranged by Richard Dünser for chamber orchestra) Gustav Mahler 1860-1911 Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (arranged by Arnold Schoenberg) Interval Alexander Zemlinsky 1871-1942 6 Gesänge Op. 13 (transcribed by Andreas N Tarkmann) Arnold Schoenberg 1874-1951 5
Event Details
Arnold Schoenberg
1874-1951
3 Stücke Op. 11 (arranged by Richard Dünser for chamber orchestra)
Gustav Mahler
1860-1911
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (arranged by Arnold Schoenberg)
Interval
Alexander Zemlinsky
1871-1942
6 Gesänge Op. 13 (transcribed by Andreas N Tarkmann)
Arnold Schoenberg
1874-1951
5 Orchesterstücke Op. 16 (arranged by Felix Greissle)
Artists:
Klangforum Wien
Vimbayi Kaziboni conductor
Barbara Kozelj mezzo-soprano
Time
(Sunday) 19:30
Location
Wigmore hall London
Organizer
Klangforum Wien / Wigmore hall London
17feb19:30Schönberg: Pierrot Lunaire at Wigmore hallKlangforum Wien and Vimbayi Kaziboni
Event Details
Franz Schreker 1878-1934 Der Wind Hanns Eisler 1898-1962 Divertimento for wind quintet Op. 4 Ferruccio Busoni 1866-1924 Berceuse élégiaque Op. 42 (arranged by Erwin Stein) Interval Arnold Schoenberg 1874-1951 Pierrot Lunaire Op. 21 Artists: Klangforum Wien Vimbayi Kaziboni conductor Barbara Kozelj mezzo-soprano
Event Details
Franz Schreker
1878-1934
Der Wind
Hanns Eisler
1898-1962
Divertimento for wind quintet Op. 4
Ferruccio Busoni
1866-1924
Berceuse élégiaque Op. 42 (arranged by Erwin Stein)
Interval
Arnold Schoenberg
1874-1951
Pierrot Lunaire Op. 21
Artists:
Klangforum Wien
Vimbayi Kaziboni conductor
Barbara Kozelj mezzo-soprano
Time
(Monday) 19:30
Location
Wigmore hall London
Organizer
Klangforum Wien / Wigmore hall London
23feb19:30Song recital with Thomas BeijerLjubljana, Radio Slovenia
Event Details
PETER ILJIČ ČAJKOVSKI (1840–1893) Šest romanc za glas in klavir, op. 6: Ne ver’ moj drug / Ne verjemi, moja draga, št. 1 (Aleksej K. Tolstoj) Moj genij, moj angel, moj drug /
more
Event Details
PETER ILJIČ ČAJKOVSKI (1840–1893)
Šest romanc za glas in klavir, op. 6:
Ne ver’ moj drug / Ne verjemi, moja draga, št. 1 (Aleksej K. Tolstoj)
Moj genij, moj angel, moj drug / Moj duh, moj angel, moj prijatelj, št. 3 (Afanasij A. Fet)
MARIJ KOGOJ (1892–1956)
Češka narodna (Dragotin Kette)
Sprehod v zimi (Pavel Remec)
Jaz se te bom spomnila (Silvin Sardenko)
LEOŠ JANÁČEK (1854–1928)
Izbor iz Moravskih ljudskih pesmi:
Památky / Spomini, št. 22
Tíha / Breme, št. 21
Muzikanti / Glasbeniki, št. 50
Lavečka / Klopca, št. 37
Stálosť / Zvestoba, št. 16
THOMAS BEIJER (1988)
Nedoločena zemlja:
Pet slovenskih pesmi
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN (1810–1849)
Poljske pesmi, op. 74:
Žyczenie / Želja, št. 1 (Stefan Witwicki)
Smutna rzeka / Otožna reka, št. 3 (Stefan Witwicki)
Sliczny chłopiec / Čudovit mladenič, št. 8 (Bohdan Zaleski)
Moja pieszczotka / Moja draga, št. 12 (Adam Mickiewicz)
Time
(Sunday) 19:30
Location
Ljubljana, Radio Slovenija
Organizer
Glasbena Matica Ljubljana / Radio Slovenija
march 2025
Event Details
Vasco Mendonça Three Speeches and a Technique Kaija Saariaho Notes on Light Mioko Yokoyama Nieuw werk - wereldpremière Kaija Saariaho Quatre Instants Asko|Schönberg Ernest Martínez Izquierdo dirigent Anssi Karttunen cello Barbara Kozelj mezzo-sopraan Karen Vourc'h sopraan
Event Details
Vasco Mendonça
Three Speeches and a Technique
Kaija Saariaho
Notes on Light
Mioko Yokoyama
Nieuw werk – wereldpremière
Kaija Saariaho
Quatre Instants
Asko|Schönberg
Ernest Martínez Izquierdo dirigent
Anssi Karttunen cello
Barbara Kozelj mezzo-sopraan
Karen Vourc’h sopraan
Time
(Sunday) 20:15
Location
Muziekgebouw aan 't Ij
Organizer
Asko Schönberg Ensemble / Muziekgebouw aan 't Ij
Event Details
Ihr werdet weinen und heulen (BWV 103) Residentie Kamerkoor Residentie Bachorkest Barbara Kozelj—alt Chris Posthuma—tenor Fabian Homburg—bas Jos Vermunt—dirigent
Event Details
Ihr werdet weinen und heulen (BWV 103)
Residentie Kamerkoor
Residentie Bachorkest
Barbara Kozelj—alt
Chris Posthuma—tenor
Fabian Homburg—bas
Jos Vermunt—dirigent
Time
(Sunday) 10:30
Location
Kloosterkerk Den Haag
Organizer
Residentie Bach Ensembles The Hague
april 2025
11apr19:00Bach: St Matthew PassionPhion Orchestra and Jan Willem de Vriend / Muziekcentrum Enschede
Event Details
Jan Willem De Vriend - dirigent Andreas Weller - tenor Henk Neven - bariton Ilse Eerens - sopraan Barbara Kozelj - mezzosopraan Manuel Günther - tenor André Morsch - bariton J.S. BachMatthäus-Passion
Event Details
Jan Willem De Vriend – dirigent
Andreas Weller – tenor
Henk Neven – bariton
Ilse Eerens – sopraan
Barbara Kozelj – mezzosopraan
Manuel Günther – tenor
André Morsch – bariton
J.S. BachMatthäus-Passion
Time
(Friday) 19:00
Location
Muziekcentrum Enschede
Organizer
Phion Orchestra
Event Details
Jan Willem De Vriend - dirigent Andreas Weller - tenor Henk Neven - bariton Ilse Eerens - sopraan Barbara Kozelj - mezzosopraan Manuel Günther - tenor André Morsch - bariton J.S. BachMatthäus-Passion
Event Details
Jan Willem De Vriend – dirigent
Andreas Weller – tenor
Henk Neven – bariton
Ilse Eerens – sopraan
Barbara Kozelj – mezzosopraan
Manuel Günther – tenor
André Morsch – bariton
J.S. BachMatthäus-Passion
Time
(Saturday) 19:00
Location
Muziekcentrum Enschede
Organizer
Phion Orchestra
13apr13:00Bach: St Matthew PassionPhion Orchestra and Jan Willem de Vriend / Zwolle - Grote Kerk
Event Details
Jan Willem De Vriend - dirigent Andreas Weller - tenor Henk Neven - bariton Ilse Eerens - sopraan Barbara Kozelj - mezzosopraan Manuel Günther - tenor André Morsch - bariton J.S. BachMatthäus-Passion
Event Details
Jan Willem De Vriend – dirigent
Andreas Weller – tenor
Henk Neven – bariton
Ilse Eerens – sopraan
Barbara Kozelj – mezzosopraan
Manuel Günther – tenor
André Morsch – bariton
J.S. BachMatthäus-Passion
Time
(Sunday) 13:00
Location
Zwolle - Academiehuis Grote Kerk
Organizer
Phion Orchestra
16apr19:00Bach: St Matthew PassionResidentie Orchestra and Richard Egarr / Amare The Hague
Event Details
Richard Egarr dirigent Joshua Ellicott evangelist Lisandro Abadie Christus Ilse Eerens sopraan Barbara Kozelj mezzosopraan Linard Vrielink tenor Stephan Loges bas Nederlands Kamerkoor Haags Matrozenkoor
Event Details
Richard Egarr dirigent
Joshua Ellicott evangelist
Lisandro Abadie Christus
Ilse Eerens sopraan
Barbara Kozelj mezzosopraan
Linard Vrielink tenor
Stephan Loges bas
Nederlands Kamerkoor
Haags Matrozenkoor
Time
(Wednesday) 19:00
Location
AMARE The Hague
Organizer
Residentie Orchestra The Hague
17apr19:30Bach: St Matthew PassionResidentie Orchestra and Richard Egarr / St Pieterskerk Leiden
Event Details
Uitvoerenden Residentie Orkest Den Haag Nederlands Kamerkoor Haags Matrozenkoor Richard Egarr, dirigent Solisten Joshua Ellicott evangelist Lisandro Abadie Christus Ilse Eerens sopraan Barbara Kozelj mezzosopraan Linard Vrielink tenor Stephan Loges bas
Event Details
Uitvoerenden
Residentie Orkest Den Haag
Nederlands Kamerkoor
Haags Matrozenkoor
Richard Egarr, dirigent
Solisten
Joshua Ellicott evangelist
Lisandro Abadie Christus
Ilse Eerens sopraan
Barbara Kozelj mezzosopraan
Linard Vrielink tenor
Stephan Loges bas
Time
(Thursday) 19:30
Location
St Pieterskerk Leiden
Organizer
Residentie Orchestra The Hague
18apr11:30Bach: St Matthew PassionResidentie Orchestra and Richard Egarr / St Pieterskerk Leiden
Event Details
Uitvoerenden Residentie Orkest Den Haag Nederlands Kamerkoor Haags Matrozenkoor Richard Egarr, dirigent Solisten Joshua Ellicott evangelist Lisandro Abadie Christus Ilse Eerens sopraan Barbara Kozelj mezzosopraan Linard Vrielink tenor Stephan Loges bas
Event Details
Uitvoerenden
Residentie Orkest Den Haag
Nederlands Kamerkoor
Haags Matrozenkoor
Richard Egarr, dirigent
Solisten
Joshua Ellicott evangelist
Lisandro Abadie Christus
Ilse Eerens sopraan
Barbara Kozelj mezzosopraan
Linard Vrielink tenor
Stephan Loges bas
Time
(Friday) 11:30
Location
St Pieterskerk Leiden
Organizer
Residentie Orchestra The Hague
19apr19:00Bach: St Matthew PassionResidentie Orchestra and Richard Egarr / Amare The Hague
Event Details
Richard Egarr dirigent Joshua Ellicott evangelist Lisandro Abadie Christus Ilse Eerens sopraan Barbara Kozelj mezzosopraan Linard Vrielink tenor Stephan Loges bas Nederlands Kamerkoor Haags Matrozenkoor
Event Details
Richard Egarr dirigent
Joshua Ellicott evangelist
Lisandro Abadie Christus
Ilse Eerens sopraan
Barbara Kozelj mezzosopraan
Linard Vrielink tenor
Stephan Loges bas
Nederlands Kamerkoor
Haags Matrozenkoor
Time
(Saturday) 19:00
Location
AMARE The Hague
Organizer
Residentie Orchestra The Hague

UPCOMING CONCERTS
Past & Future Events
All
Only Past Events
Only Future Events
february 2025
16feb19:30Mahler & Zemlinsky Lieder at Wigmore hallKlangforum Wien and Vimbayi Kaziboni
Event Details
Arnold Schoenberg 1874-1951 3 Stücke Op. 11 (arranged by Richard Dünser for chamber orchestra) Gustav Mahler 1860-1911 Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (arranged by Arnold Schoenberg) Interval Alexander Zemlinsky 1871-1942 6 Gesänge Op. 13 (transcribed by Andreas N Tarkmann) Arnold Schoenberg 1874-1951 5
Event Details
Arnold Schoenberg
1874-1951
3 Stücke Op. 11 (arranged by Richard Dünser for chamber orchestra)
Gustav Mahler
1860-1911
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (arranged by Arnold Schoenberg)
Interval
Alexander Zemlinsky
1871-1942
6 Gesänge Op. 13 (transcribed by Andreas N Tarkmann)
Arnold Schoenberg
1874-1951
5 Orchesterstücke Op. 16 (arranged by Felix Greissle)
Artists:
Klangforum Wien
Vimbayi Kaziboni conductor
Barbara Kozelj mezzo-soprano
Time
(Sunday) 19:30
Location
Wigmore hall London
Organizer
Klangforum Wien / Wigmore hall London
17feb19:30Schönberg: Pierrot Lunaire at Wigmore hallKlangforum Wien and Vimbayi Kaziboni
Event Details
Franz Schreker 1878-1934 Der Wind Hanns Eisler 1898-1962 Divertimento for wind quintet Op. 4 Ferruccio Busoni 1866-1924 Berceuse élégiaque Op. 42 (arranged by Erwin Stein) Interval Arnold Schoenberg 1874-1951 Pierrot Lunaire Op. 21 Artists: Klangforum Wien Vimbayi Kaziboni conductor Barbara Kozelj mezzo-soprano
Event Details
Franz Schreker
1878-1934
Der Wind
Hanns Eisler
1898-1962
Divertimento for wind quintet Op. 4
Ferruccio Busoni
1866-1924
Berceuse élégiaque Op. 42 (arranged by Erwin Stein)
Interval
Arnold Schoenberg
1874-1951
Pierrot Lunaire Op. 21
Artists:
Klangforum Wien
Vimbayi Kaziboni conductor
Barbara Kozelj mezzo-soprano
Time
(Monday) 19:30
Location
Wigmore hall London
Organizer
Klangforum Wien / Wigmore hall London
23feb19:30Song recital with Thomas BeijerLjubljana, Radio Slovenia
Event Details
PETER ILJIČ ČAJKOVSKI (1840–1893) Šest romanc za glas in klavir, op. 6: Ne ver’ moj drug / Ne verjemi, moja draga, št. 1 (Aleksej K. Tolstoj) Moj genij, moj angel, moj drug /
more
Event Details
PETER ILJIČ ČAJKOVSKI (1840–1893)
Šest romanc za glas in klavir, op. 6:
Ne ver’ moj drug / Ne verjemi, moja draga, št. 1 (Aleksej K. Tolstoj)
Moj genij, moj angel, moj drug / Moj duh, moj angel, moj prijatelj, št. 3 (Afanasij A. Fet)
MARIJ KOGOJ (1892–1956)
Češka narodna (Dragotin Kette)
Sprehod v zimi (Pavel Remec)
Jaz se te bom spomnila (Silvin Sardenko)
LEOŠ JANÁČEK (1854–1928)
Izbor iz Moravskih ljudskih pesmi:
Památky / Spomini, št. 22
Tíha / Breme, št. 21
Muzikanti / Glasbeniki, št. 50
Lavečka / Klopca, št. 37
Stálosť / Zvestoba, št. 16
THOMAS BEIJER (1988)
Nedoločena zemlja:
Pet slovenskih pesmi
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN (1810–1849)
Poljske pesmi, op. 74:
Žyczenie / Želja, št. 1 (Stefan Witwicki)
Smutna rzeka / Otožna reka, št. 3 (Stefan Witwicki)
Sliczny chłopiec / Čudovit mladenič, št. 8 (Bohdan Zaleski)
Moja pieszczotka / Moja draga, št. 12 (Adam Mickiewicz)
Time
(Sunday) 19:30
Location
Ljubljana, Radio Slovenija
Organizer
Glasbena Matica Ljubljana / Radio Slovenija
march 2025
Event Details
Vasco Mendonça Three Speeches and a Technique Kaija Saariaho Notes on Light Mioko Yokoyama Nieuw werk - wereldpremière Kaija Saariaho Quatre Instants Asko|Schönberg Ernest Martínez Izquierdo dirigent Anssi Karttunen cello Barbara Kozelj mezzo-sopraan Karen Vourc'h sopraan
Event Details
Vasco Mendonça
Three Speeches and a Technique
Kaija Saariaho
Notes on Light
Mioko Yokoyama
Nieuw werk – wereldpremière
Kaija Saariaho
Quatre Instants
Asko|Schönberg
Ernest Martínez Izquierdo dirigent
Anssi Karttunen cello
Barbara Kozelj mezzo-sopraan
Karen Vourc’h sopraan
Time
(Sunday) 20:15
Location
Muziekgebouw aan 't Ij
Organizer
Asko Schönberg Ensemble / Muziekgebouw aan 't Ij
Event Details
Ihr werdet weinen und heulen (BWV 103) Residentie Kamerkoor Residentie Bachorkest Barbara Kozelj—alt Chris Posthuma—tenor Fabian Homburg—bas Jos Vermunt—dirigent
Event Details
Ihr werdet weinen und heulen (BWV 103)
Residentie Kamerkoor
Residentie Bachorkest
Barbara Kozelj—alt
Chris Posthuma—tenor
Fabian Homburg—bas
Jos Vermunt—dirigent
Time
(Sunday) 10:30
Location
Kloosterkerk Den Haag
Organizer
Residentie Bach Ensembles The Hague
