Biography
Actress and soprano Isabel Schwartzbach trained at the Danish National Academy of Music with a major in classical voice, and furthered her studies under acclaimed coloratura soprano Louise Fribo. She later graduated from the prestigious three-year Conservatory Program at Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City.
Today, Schwartzbach is recognized as one of Denmark’s most sought-after voices in musical theatre and symphonic crossover. Her vocal range and presence have earned her critical acclaim and a long list of leading roles and concert appearances. In 2025, she played Maria in The Sound of Music at The New Theatre, Copenhagen – a performance hailed by critics for its emotional depth and vocal brilliance. One reviewer wrote that Schwartzbach “outshines everything and everyone” in the production, describing her as “the definitive Maria for a new generation.” Another mused that Julie Andrews had merely been “a substitute in the role until Isabel Schwartzbach was born and old enough to carry it herself.” The production ran for over 80 performances and cemented her as a leading figure in Danish musical theatre.
Other stage highlights include Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera (The New Theatre, 2018–19), Maria in West Side Story (Aarhus Theatre and Aalborg Theatre, 2018), Cosette in Les Misérables (Aarhus Theatre), Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (The New Theatre), and Violetta in Pretty Woman – The Musical on national tour.
Schwartzbach is a frequent soloist with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, performing a wide range of repertoire spanning musical theatre and fantasy film scores. She has appeared in multiple concert productions, including Gaming X Symphony alongside Faroese singer Eivør (2024) and Galaxymphony – a spectacular sci-fi film score celebration (2025). She has also performed with the Odense Symphony Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, the Tivoli Promenade Orchestra, and the Danish Chamber Orchestra.
On television, she has appeared as a featured soloist at P3 Guld alongside Burhan G, and delivered multiple live performances on Good Morning Denmark (TV2), both in musical theatre repertoire and her own material. In 2023, she captivated a national TV audience with her interpretation of Ennio Morricone’s Once Upon a Time in the West at the annual cancer research benefit Knæk Cancer (TV2).
Furthermore, Schwartzbach released her first single, Molly Malone, in April 2024. Her second single, Shenandoah, was released in June 2024 and they are both preceding a full EP with Schwartzbach’s interpretations of folk music. Her refreshing take on the traditional songs combining folk, pop, and classical elements has already garnered significant press coverage.
Schwartzbach is also active as a voice actor for Disney and Netflix, including voicing Belle in Disney on Ice and Isabel Fezziwig in Scrooge: A Christmas Carol.
She is the recipient of several awards, including the Inge Dam Grant for Young Promising Actors, awarded by legendary Danish actor Per Pallesen.
