As the stylish German soprano prepares for her Melbourne recital, she speaks about influences, big breaks and what’s next.

Equally at home in Mozart and contemporary music, the German soprano Christiane Oelze has an enviable discography across a variety of labels. From Bach and Beethoven, from Wolf to Webern, she’s a respected Lieder singer, as well as an accomplished operatic performer. In Australia for a recital in Melbourne and a set of Beethoven Nines in Sydney, Justine Nguyen caught up with her to find out more about one of the world’s most eclectic singers.

As a young singer, who were among the voices you admired?

I loved particular recordings of Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs sung by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf with Otto Ackermann, also with George Szell, and the one with Jessye Norman with Kurt Masur – totally different. I also enjoyed Janet Baker and her Handel cantatas. Also I loved to listen to singers of the “old time”: Rosa Ponselle, Elisabeth Schumann and Lotte Lehmann. Probably more or less unconsciously I absorbed everyone’s style of singing. Also I loved to listen to Fritz Wunderlich, Lauritz Melchior (with Wagner!) and Heinrich Schlusnus, a very fine Lieder singer. I love string quartets;...