Biography

Karin Strobos is an award-winning Dutch mezzo-soprano known for her vocal versatility, expressive stage presence, and wide-ranging repertoire across opera, concert, and chamber music. She graduated with distinction from the Conservatory of Utrecht in 2007, where she studied with Yana Diemer, and was a member of the Netherlands Opera Studio during the 2006/2007 season.
Her career began as a member of the ensemble at Opera Zuid Maastricht (2009–2011), where she performed key roles such as Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), and Angelina (La Cenerentola). Early guest appearances included performances as Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) and Cherubino with the Nederlandse Reisopera.

She gained international attention in 2011 when she stepped in at short notice as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier at Dutch National Opera under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle—a role that has since become one of her signature parts. This was followed by several seasons as a soloist at the Aalto-Musiktheater in Essen, Germany, where she expanded her repertoire with roles such as Charlotte (Werther), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Adalgisa (Norma), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Siebel (Faust), and recurring performances as Octavian and Rosina.

Since 2019, Karin Strobos has worked as a freelance artist, appearing regularly at renowned venues including the Dutch National Opera, the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, and the Aalto-Musiktheater Essen. At Dutch National Opera, she was featured as Karolka in Jenůfa under Tomáš Netopil in a staging by Katie Mitchell, and as Fortuna in the world premiere of Mohammed Fairouz’s The New Prince conducted by Steven Sloane and directed by Lotte de Beer. In 2020, as part of the Holland Festival, she returned to the house to appear in Rusalka, conducted by Jakub Hrůša and staged by Philipp Stölzl.

A sought-after concert soloist, she has performed with leading orchestras including the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Residentie Orkest, the Noord Nederlands Orkest, and Philharmonie Zuidnederland. She is also an active chamber musician, collaborating regularly with pianist Else Sterk, as well as in a trio with pianist Daria van den Bercken and flutist Felicia van den End. She has also appeared in recital with pianist Thomas Beijer and actor Sieger Sloot. For her artistic achievements, she has been honored with the Grachtenfestival Prize in Amsterdam.

In July, Karin Strobos appeared as both soloist and host at the Symphonic Summers alongside the Phion Orkest van Gelderland en Overijssel in Enschede. She is scheduled to perform again with the Phion Orkest in the Netherlands in January 2026, this time for the New Year’s concerts.

Artist Website

www.karinstrobos.nl

Management

General Management

Artist Manager
 
 
 
 
Boris Orlob
Managing Director
boris@orlob.net 
Mobil: +49-172-8 51 55 14

Press

 

Ariadne auf Naxos / Nederlandse Reisopera Amsterdam / 08.10.16 / bachtrack.com
 

"portrayed very convincingly an endearing and juvenile Composer" 

Il barbiere di Siviglia / Aalto-Musiktheater Essen / 04.06.16 / magazin.klassik.com


"verzaubert auch stimmlich. Belcanto vom Feinsten" 

Opera Gala / Concertgebouw Amsterdam / 22.05.15 / bachtrack.com


"her silky, limber mezzo warmed up the audience and set up a festive mood" 

Il barbiere di Siviglia / Nederlandse Reisopera Amsterdam / 16.08.14 / bachtrack.com


"showed off a beautiful lyric sound especially at the top of her range" 
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