Country

:

Sweden

Birth

:

May 7, 1927 in Stockholm, Sweden

Death

:

November 20, 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Elisabeth Söderström was a Swedish soprano who was born on May 7, 1927, in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the daughter of a Swedish father and a Finnish mother. Her father was a professor of mathematics, and her mother was a pianist. Söderström grew up in a musical family and began singing at a young age. Söderström studied at the Stockholm Conservatory and made her debut in 1947 at the Royal Swedish Opera as Bastienne in Mozart's Bastien und Bastienne. She quickly became a favorite of audiences and critics alike, and her career took off. In 1951, Söderström made her debut at the Glyndebourne Festival in England as Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni. She also made her debut at the Salzburg Festival in Austria in 1954 as Susanna in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. These performances helped establish her as an international star. Söderström was known for her versatility and ability to sing a wide range of roles. She was particularly acclaimed for her interpretations of Mozart, Strauss, and Janáček. She was also known for her performances of Swedish and Finnish music. One of Söderström's most famous roles was as the Marschallin in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier. She first performed the role in 1959 at the Royal Opera House in London and went on to perform it many times throughout her career. Her interpretation of the role was widely praised for its depth and sensitivity. Söderström also had a close relationship with the composer Janáček. She performed many of his works, including the role of Emilia Marty in The Makropulos Affair. She also recorded a number of his songs and was instrumental in bringing his music to a wider audience. Throughout her career, Söderström received many awards and honors. In 1965, she was awarded the Litteris et Artibus medal by the Swedish government for her contributions to the arts. She was also awarded the Royal Swedish Academy of Music's Litteris et Artibus medal in 1972. In 1981, she was awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland, one of the highest honors in Finland. Söderström retired from the stage in 1989 but continued to teach and mentor young singers. She was a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music in London from 1991 to 1997. She also served as a jury member for many international singing competitions. Elisabeth Söderström passed away on November 20, 2009, at the age of 82. She was remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, known for her beautiful voice, impeccable technique, and deep musicality. Her recordings continue to be treasured by classical music lovers around the world.

More....