A sports injury sustained in 1987 forced a sudden shift in career trajectory for Magdalena Kožená, moving her focus from piano performance to vocal training. Since then, the Czech mezzo-soprano has established an international presence as a concert and opera singer, earning recognition through extensive recordings and performances at major global venues and music festivals.
Early Training and Education
Born in 1973 in Brno, Czechoslovakia, Kožená began her musical engagement as a member of the Kantiléna choir. Following her 1987 injury, she transitioned to voice studies at the Brno Conservatory, where she worked with Neva Megová and Jiří Peša until 1991. She subsequently enrolled at the Bratislava Drama College, studying under Eva Blahová and graduating in 1995. Her early professional recognition included a prize at the International Mozart Competition in 1995 and a position at the Vienna Volksoper for the 1996-97 season.
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Kožená's recording career accelerated after her initial collection of Bach arias led to a contract with Deutsche Grammophon. Her extensive discography features a wide range of composers, including Handel, Vivaldi, Gluck, Mozart, Dvořák, and Janáček. She has produced numerous recital discs, including the 2001 Gramophone Solo Vocal Award winner featuring works by Dvořák, Janáček, and Martinů. Her collaborative output also spans recordings with the Venice Baroque Orchestra and Pentatone, where she recorded with Simon Rattle.
Operatic Engagements
Her career is marked by notable operatic roles across European and international stages. She performed as Orfeo in Gluck's Orphée at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Nerone in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Vienna Festival, and Sesto in Mozart's La clemenza di Tito at the Edinburgh Festival. Other significant credits include Zerlina in Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival, Cleopatra in Handel's Giulio Cesare, and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at the Aix-en-Provence Festival and the Metropolitan Opera.
Honours and Distinctions
Throughout her professional life, Kožená has received various awards and decorations. She was named Gramophone Awards Artist of the Year in 2004 and received the Handel Prize in 2013. Her honors include the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, the 2020 Silver Medal of the President of the Senate, and the 2023 Czech Medal of Merit, 1st class. She also received the Czech Crystal Award at the Golden Prague International Television Festival in 2001.
Fast facts
- Born: 1973, Brno
- Citizenship: Czech Republic
- Primary Occupation: Mezzo-soprano
- Education: Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava
- Handel Prize: 2013
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres: Awarded by France
Questions readers ask
What led Magdalena Kožená to pursue singing?
She initially planned a career as a professional pianist but switched to singing in 1987 after sustaining a hand injury during a school sports activity.
Where has she performed operas?
She has appeared at major venues including the Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, the Vienna Festival, the Edinburgh Festival, and the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Achievements
- Handel Prize — 2013
- Silver Medal of the President of the Senate — 2020
- Czech Medal of Merit, 1st class — 2023
- Instruments: piano and voice
- Genres: opera
