The Swedish soloist Susanne Rydén is one of Europe's leading sopranos specialising in early music. Inspired by her love and understanding of the colourful Baroque repertoire, she works regularly with internationally acclaimed ensembles and conductors, recent concert seasons having included Bach's Christmas Oratorio with Nicholas McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in San Fransisco, the St. Matthew Passion with the Nederlandse Bachvereiniging, a programme of Handel with Harry Bicket and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm, Bach's St. Mark Passion with the Academy of Ancient Music at the Easter Festival in Lucerne, Handel's Messiah with the Bach Collegium Japan under Masaaki Suzuki, concerts with Lars Ulrik Mortensen and Concerto Copenhagen, Mozart Concert Arias with the Australian Brandenburg Baroque Orchestra and Paul Dyer, and European tours with Emma Kirkby as well as Collegium Vocale and Philippe Herreweghe. She has performed at numerous European opera houses and festivals. Susanne Rydén frequently appears as a guest artist at major European music festivals and concert venues, and her global touring has taken in, for example, Australia, the USA, Japan, Russia and South Africa. Susanne Rydén has made numerous recordings for labels including Harmonia Mundi, BIS, Avie, Caprice and cpo Germany, several of which have won awards. Future recordings include Handel Cantatas and a second duo-recording with Emma Kirkby due for release in May 2010, followed by a European concert tour. Susanne Rydén studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. She is now herself in constant demand to teach at music festivals around the world. In 2007 she was appointed a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Music.