Birgit Nilsson Biography

Birgit Nilsson was a prominent 20th century Swedish dramatic soprano, best known for performing the works of the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner. She also sang the operas of many other composers, including Verdi, Strauss, and Puccini but it was her renditions of Wagner’s compositions that earned her a legendary status in operatic history. She possessed a steady and powerful soprano voice, and tremendous clarity in the upper register, holding high notes seemingly forever. She inherited her musical talents from her mother, an amateur singer. She began singing when she was a toddler, even before she learned to walk. She sang in the church choir as a young girl, and her choirmaster recognized her potential and advised her to take voice lessons. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm on a prestigious scholarship and made her debut in the Royal Opera in Stockholm in 1946. She soon found a mentor in the acclaimed German conductor, Fritz Busch, under whose tutelage she emerged as a successful soprano. An astute businesswoman, she managed her own career and became one of the highest-paid singers in the field. After a long and glorious career, she retired from singing and returned to her childhood home.