Barbara Schlick

Barbara Schlick is a German soprano born in Würzburg on 21 July 1943, a figure well known for historically informed performance of Baroque and Classical music. Her career was rooted in early music, a field in which she became especially renowned.

She trained at the conservatory in her native city and later with Hilde Wesselmann in Essen. Her professional career began in 1966 as a member of the Adolf Scherbaum Baroque Ensemble. She then performed with other ensembles, among them the Monteverdi Choir of Hamburg conducted by Jürgen Jürgens. From very early on she concentrated on Baroque and Classical repertoire, collaborating with specialists such as Reinhard Goebel, Philippe Herreweghe, Ton Koopman, Sigiswald Kuijken and William Christie, and she performed at practically all the major musical centres of Europe, the United States, Canada and the former Soviet Union. She now teaches at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Würzburg.

Her discography is extensive and includes Bach's major choral works, a good part of his cantatas and several Baroque operas, such as Handel's Giulio Cesare and Hasse's Piramo e Tisbe. Her importance lies in a voice of great purity and fluidity, with moving expressiveness and a notable sense of style.