The repertoire of Swedish soprano Elisabeth Holmertz spans from medieval to contemporary via Baroque, folk song, experimental musical theatre, and the late Romantic era, but she mainly works with early and contemporary music.

Elisabeth studied at the Norwegian Academy of Music where her principal teacher was Professor Barbro Marklund-Petersône. She also studied with Professor Barbara Schlick at the Hochschule für Musik Köln, Germany, where she ended her studies with a Konzertexamen in 2004.

Her opera debut was made in 2005, singing the title role in Ophelias: Death by Water Singing by Henrik Hellstenius. Since then she has lent her voice to many female characters (Dido, Hedda Gabler, Armide, et al). Elisabeth has appeared as soloist with some of the most important ensembles and orchestras in Scandinavia, among them, Concerto Copenhagen, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Oslo Simfonietta, Danish Chamber Orchestra and the Cikada Ensemble. She has worked with conductors such as Christian Eggen, Ingar Bergby, Tõnu Kaljuste, Jonathan Stockhammer and Andew Lawrence-King. Larger concertante work includes Pierrot Lunaire (Arnold Schönberg), Lonely Child (Claude Vivier), L’Abbé Agathon (Arvo Pärt), and Tre Voci (Arne Nordheim). She is also a sought after oratorio singer and has sung all the main church music in Aachen dome, the Nidaros cathedral and others.

Her open mind, musical diversity and flexible technique make her the perfect singer for all kinds of projects, as well as different musical styles. Stave Church Songs is a project that combines a mediaeval sequence with folk music, avante garde, jazz and impro, and toured Norwegian stave churches in 2009. She has played musical theatre together with ensemble Ning (NO) and Teater Cinnober (SE) in Maria Tryti Wennerød’s “Meir/Mera”. In 2013 she premiered “Desiring Machines”, an experimental opera about women- myths and icons by Erik Dæhlin.

Although she loves opera and orchestral work, she is a true chamber musician at heart. Her two main co-musicians are Swedish lute player Fredrik Bock and pianist Kenneth Karlsson. Together with Fredrik Bock (SE) she seeks to expand the sound of the classical soprano- and lute duo with their own arrangements. They have released two albums with lute songs on LAWO classics; on the second, “Sounds, sweet airs and the art of longing”, they have the wonderful company of flute player Poul Høxbro.

Kenneth Karlsson is one of the most respected pianists in Norway and with him she sings the newest and coolest music of today.

Most important is the music.

Den svenske sopranen Elisabeth Holmertz har et repertoar som spenner fra middelalder- til samtidsmusikk, via barokk, viser, eksperimentelt musikkteater og senromantikk, men tyngdepunktet i hennes arbeid ligger på tidligmusikk og nyskrevet musikk.

Hun operadebuterte i 2005 med tittelrollen i Ophelias: death by water singing av Henrik Hellstenius og har siden gjort flere anerkjente tolkninger av sterke kvinneskikkelser på operascenen, bl.a. Dido, Octavia (Poppeas kroning, Monteverdi) og Armide (Lully). Hun har vært solist i større verk med bl.a. Det Norske Kammerorkester, Kringkastingsorkestret, Oslo Sinfonietta, Danmarks Radios Underholdningsorkester, Cikada og Concerto Copenhagen, og har jobbet med ensemble Ning, Teater Cinnober og Utomjordiska.

Mest av alt er Elisabeth kammermusiker, og hun søker seg til andre musikere som går utradisjonelle veier og søker nye musikalske muligheter. Her kan nevnes pianisten Kenneth Karlsson, med hvem hun mest synger samtidsmusikk, og svenske lutenisten Fredrik Bock, som hun bl.a gitt ut to cd’er med tidig musikk og pop med. I 2013 urfremførte hun “Desiring Machines”, en experimentell opera om kvinner – myter og ikoner av Erik Dæhlin.

Fra 2009 frem til i dag har hun turnert med blant annet Elisabeth Vatn og Anders Røine i de norske stavkirkene med prosjektet Stave Church Songs – Martyred Saints and Sister Bells. Prosjektet var et bestillingsverk til Unescos kulturminneår og ble gitt ut på CD i 2011. Ensemblet utvidet med Poul Høxbro arbeider også for tiden med konserten Lux Illuxit – som bygger på Olavsmusikken.

Elisabeth studerte ved Norges musikkhøgskole med professor Barbro Marklund-Pêtersone, og ved Hochschule für Musik Köln under professor Barbara Schlick.