Country

:

Sweden

Birth

:

May 17, 1918 in Västra Karups, Sweden

Death

:

December 25, 2005 in Västra Karups, Sweden

Genre

:

Opera

 

Birgit Nilsson was a Swedish soprano who was widely regarded as one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos of the 20th century. She was born on May 17, 1918, in Västra Karup, a small village in southern Sweden. Her parents were farmers, and she grew up in a musical family. Her father played the accordion, and her mother sang in the local choir. Nilsson showed an early interest in music and began singing in the local church choir at the age of six. She later studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, where she trained as a mezzo-soprano. However, her voice soon developed into a full-fledged soprano, and she began to focus on that repertoire. Nilsson made her operatic debut in 1946, singing the role of Agathe in Weber's Der Freischütz at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. She quickly gained a reputation as a rising star, and in 1947, she was invited to sing the role of Lady Macbeth in Verdi's Macbeth at the Royal Opera in Copenhagen. Her performance was a triumph, and she was soon in demand at opera houses throughout Europe. In 1951, Nilsson made her debut at the Bayreuth Festival, the annual festival dedicated to the music of Richard Wagner. She sang the role of Freia in Wagner's Das Rheingold, and her performance was a sensation. She went on to sing many of Wagner's leading roles at Bayreuth, including Brünnhilde in the Ring cycle, Isolde in Tristan und Isolde, and Elsa in Lohengrin. Nilsson's voice was powerful and dramatic, with a bright, ringing tone that could cut through even the densest orchestration. She was particularly noted for her ability to sustain high notes, and her performances were often electrifying. Her voice was also remarkably versatile, and she was equally at home in the Italian and French operatic repertoire. Nilsson made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1959, singing the role of Isolde in Tristan und Isolde. Her performance was a sensation, and she quickly became a favorite of the Met audience. She went on to sing many of her signature roles at the Met, including Brünnhilde, Elektra in Strauss's Elektra, and Turandot in Puccini's Turandot. Nilsson was also a frequent guest artist at other major opera houses around the world, including the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Vienna State Opera. She was particularly noted for her performances in the works of Richard Strauss, and she was widely regarded as the greatest interpreter of his music since the composer's own time. Nilsson was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout her career. She was made a Commander of the Order of the Polar Star by the Swedish government in 1958, and she was awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French government in 1960. She was also awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Gold Medal in 1968, and she was made a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1970. Nilsson retired from the stage in 1984, after a career that spanned nearly four decades. She continued to be active in the music world, however, and she served as a mentor to many young singers. She also established the Birgit Nilsson Foundation, which supports young singers and conductors. Nilsson died on December 25, 2005, at the age of 87. She was widely mourned by the music world, and her legacy as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century continues to be celebrated today.

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