Rune Stensvold was a Norwegian baritone who was born on August 13, 1938, in Oslo, Norway. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father was a choir conductor, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Stensvold showed a keen interest in music and began singing in choirs and playing the piano. Stensvold began his formal music education at the Oslo Conservatory of Music, where he studied under the tutelage of the renowned Norwegian baritone, Aage Haugland. He later continued his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he studied with the Danish baritone, Mogens Schmidt-Jensen. Stensvold made his professional debut in 1964 at the Norwegian National Opera in Oslo, where he performed the role of Escamillo in Georges Bizet's opera, Carmen. He quickly gained recognition for his powerful voice and commanding stage presence, and he soon became one of the most sought-after baritones in Europe. Throughout his career, Stensvold performed in many of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Vienna State Opera. He was particularly renowned for his performances in the operas of Richard Wagner, and he was widely regarded as one of the greatest Wagnerian baritones of his generation. Stensvold's most notable performances include his portrayal of Wotan in Wagner's Ring Cycle, which he performed in many different productions throughout his career. He also performed the role of Hans Sachs in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, which he considered to be one of his favorite roles. In addition to his work in opera, Stensvold was also a prolific concert singer, and he performed in many of the world's most prestigious concert halls. He was particularly renowned for his performances of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and he was widely regarded as one of the greatest Bach singers of his generation. Throughout his career, Stensvold received many awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1985, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of St. Olav, which is one of Norway's highest honors. He was also awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit in 1998. Stensvold retired from performing in 2003, after a career that spanned nearly four decades. He continued to be active in the music world, however, and he served as a mentor and teacher to many young singers. He also served as a judge for many international singing competitions, including the prestigious Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Stensvold passed away on December 14, 2013, at the age of 75. He was widely mourned by the classical music world, and he was remembered as one of the greatest baritones of his generation. His legacy lives on through his many recordings and performances, which continue to inspire and delight audiences around the world.

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