Birth

:

February 22, 1934 in Sangis, Sweden

Death

:

April 7, 2022

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Birgit Nordin was a Swedish soprano who was born on December 27, 1936, in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the daughter of a Swedish father and a Finnish mother. Her father was a musician and a composer, and her mother was a singer. Nordin grew up in a musical family and started singing at a young age. Nordin studied at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where she received her diploma in 1958. She then continued her studies in Vienna, Austria, with the famous soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Nordin's voice was described as a "lyric soprano with a bright, clear tone and a remarkable range." Nordin made her debut at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm in 1960, where she sang the role of Pamina in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." She quickly became a favorite of the Swedish public and was soon invited to perform at other major opera houses in Europe, including the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and La Scala in Milan. One of Nordin's most famous performances was her portrayal of the title role in Richard Strauss's "Salome" at the Salzburg Festival in 1968. Her performance was widely praised, and she became known as one of the leading interpreters of the role. She also performed the role of Salome at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1972. Nordin was also known for her performances of Mozart's operas, particularly the role of Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni." She performed this role at the Glyndebourne Festival in England, the Salzburg Festival, and the Metropolitan Opera. In addition to her opera performances, Nordin was also a successful concert singer. She performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. She was particularly known for her performances of Gustav Mahler's symphonies, and she recorded several of them with the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Herbert von Karajan. Nordin received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1966, she was awarded the Litteris et Artibus medal by the Swedish government for her contributions to the arts. She was also awarded the Order of the Polar Star, one of Sweden's highest honors, in 1973. In 1980, she was awarded the Royal Swedish Academy of Music's Litteris et Artibus medal. Nordin retired from performing in 1985, but she continued to teach singing at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. She also served as a member of the board of the Swedish National Opera. Nordin died on March 14, 2018, at the age of 81. She was remembered as one of Sweden's greatest sopranos and a beloved figure in the world of classical music. Her recordings continue to be admired for their beauty and artistry, and her legacy lives on through the many singers she taught and inspired.

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