Birgit Nilsson

Composers

Biography

Born: May 17, 1918; Västra Karups, Sweden   Died: December 25, 2005; Västra Karups, Sweden  
The vocal talents of Birgit Nilsson were first recognized when began to sing in her church choir. She studied voice with Ragnar Blennow in Bastad and later at the Royal Music Academy Stockholm with Joseph Hislop and Arne Sunnegard. She made her opera debut at Stockholm where her first important role was Agatha in Der Freischütz, and in 1947 she sang Lady Macbeth in Verdi's Macbeth there. Her first important international appearance came in 1951 Read more as Elettra in Mozart's Idomeneo at the Glyndebourne Festival. In 1952, she sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at Florence. Her first important appearances in Wagner operas came in 1953 at Stockholm where she sang Elisabeth in Tannhäuser and Isolde for the first time. This marked the start of the most important Wagnerian career of the second half of the twentieth century. The following year she made her Bayrueth debut as Elsa in Lohengrin and in the same season sang Ortlinde in Die Walküre. She later appeared there as Isolde and as Brunnhilde. It was in Munich during the 1954-1955 season that she first sang Brunnhilde in Wagner's Das Ring der Nebelungen and during the same season she sang her first Salome. In 1957, she sang the complete Ring cycle in London. At the Vienna State Opera she was heard as Elsa, Sieglinde, Elisabeth, Aida, and Sent. In 1957 she sang Leonore in Beethoven's Fidelio and the following season sang her first Turandot. She was also highly regarded for her interpretations of Elektra and the Barak's Wife in Die Frau ohne Schatten. Her other important Italian roles were Tosca, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera and Aida. She sang at all of the major opera centers of the world including Tokyo, Paris, Buenos Aires, Chicago, San Francisco, and Hamburg. Also she sang Turandot in Moscow with the Teatro alla Scala. At the age of 62, a performance of Strauss' Elektra was videotaped at the Metropolitan Opera House and broadcast around the world.

Because of her full schedule of opera performances, Nilsson did not sing in many concerts or recitals although early in her career she did sing the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven on several occasions including one at Bayreuth. She did give some recitals including tours of Australia and Japan as well the major music centers of Europe and North America. Her recital programs concentrated on the German and Scandinavian songs, including some rarely heard pieces by Stenhammar. She often sang "I Could Have Danced All Night" as an encore.

The voice of Birgit Nilsson was like a laser beam that cut through the orchestra, unlike the voice of Kirsten Flagstad or Jessye Norman which are like a wall of sound. It was a large voice with such brilliance that at times it gave the sensation of being sharp of the intended pitch. She was a congenial colleague except for her long standing difficulties with Franco Corelli regarding the length of the high Cs in Puccini's Turandot and with Herbert von Karjan. Happily all of her important roles have been preserved on recordings. As long as the operas of Wagner are performed, the voice of Birgit Nilsson will be remembered, and no one has sung Puccini's Turandot with more brilliance or security. Her autobiography, Mina minnesbilder, was published in 1977 at Stockholm. Read less

Featured Birgit Nilsson CDs & DVDs:

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde / Böhm, Nilsson, Windgassen
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde / Böhm, Nilsson, Windgassen
Release Date: 11/11/1997   Label: Dg The Originals  
Catalog: 449772   Number of Discs: 3
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Mozart: Don Giovanni / Leinsdorf, Siepi, Price, Nilsson
Mozart: Don Giovanni / Leinsdorf, Siepi, Price, Nilsson
Release Date: 03/10/2011   Label: London/Decca Grand Opera Series  
Catalog: 444594   Number of Discs: 3
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Wagner: Siegfried / Solti, Nilsson, Hotter, Stolze
Wagner: Siegfried / Solti, Nilsson, Hotter, Stolze
Release Date: 02/11/2010   Label: Decca  
Catalog: 414110   Number of Discs: 4
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Wagner Gala / Knappertsbusch, Flagstad, Nilsson, London
Wagner Gala / Knappertsbusch, Flagstad, Nilsson, London
Release Date: 08/08/2000   Label: London/Decca Opera Gala Series  
Catalog: 458238   Number of Discs: 1
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Mozart: Don Giovanni / Fischer-Dieskau, Nilsson, Bohm
Mozart: Don Giovanni / Fischer-Dieskau, Nilsson, Bohm
Release Date: 06/01/1990   Label: Deutsche Grammophon  
Catalog: 429870   Number of Discs: 3
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Browse 101-125 of 163 Available Recordings
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  • 101.
    Voice Of Firestone - Great Sopranos / Steber, Sutherland, Price, Et Al
    Voice Of Firestone - Great Sopranos / Steber, Sutherland, Price, Et Al
    Label: Kultur Video   Catalog: 2442 Release Date: 11/16/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Oscar Straus,  Victor Herbert,  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Eleanor Steber,  Jeanette MacDonald,  Patrice Munsel,  Roberta Peters  ... 
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  • 102.
    Grand Tier - Puccini: Turandot / Gavazzeni, Nilsson, Et Al
    Grand Tier - Puccini: Turandot / Gavazzeni, Nilsson, Et Al
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 7008 Release Date: 11/02/2004   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini
    Performer:  Galina Vishnevskaya,  Nicola Zaccaria,  Franco Corelli,  Birgit Nilsson  ... 
    Conductor:  Gianandrea Gavazzeni
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Chorus
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  • 103.
    Masters Of The Voice - Soprano / Battle, Fleming, Et Al
    Masters Of The Voice - Soprano / Battle, Fleming, Et Al
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 000273702 Release Date: 07/13/2004   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Leonard Bernstein,  Francesco Cilèa,  Richard Strauss  ... 
    Performer:  Dame Joan Sutherland,  June Anderson,  Giovanni Foiani,  Silvio Maionica  ... 
    Conductor:  Francesco Molinari-Pradelli,  Leonard Bernstein,  Franco Capuana,  Sir Georg Solti  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus,  Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 104.
    Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde / Rodzinsky, Nilsson, Windgassen
    Label: Living Stage   Catalog: 1107 Release Date: 06/29/2004   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Robert Lauhöfer,  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Otto Von Rohr,  Birgit Nilsson  ... 
    Conductor:  Artur Rodzinski
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Florence Maggio Musicale Chorus,  Florence Maggio Musicale Orchestra
    On sale! $58.98
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  • 105.
    Best Of Wagner
    Best Of Wagner
    Label: Eloquence   Catalog: 477503 Release Date: 05/28/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Thomas Stewart,  Dame Gwyneth Jones,  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,  James King  ... 
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm,  Silvio Varviso,  Riccardo Chailly,  Otto Gerdes  ... 
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  • 106.
    Richard Strauss - Prima Donnas
    Richard Strauss - Prima Donnas
    Label: Rca Victor Special Imports   Catalog: 69427 Release Date: 11/18/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Strauss
    Performer:  Christa Ludwig,  Erich Kunz,  Reri Grist,  Dame Gwyneth Jones  ... 
    Conductor:  Leonard Bernstein,  Heinz Wallberg,  Karl Böhm,  Joseph Keilberth  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna State Opera Orchestra,  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 107.
    The Life Of Verdi (1982)
    The Life Of Verdi (1982)
    Label: Kultur Video   Catalog: 1246 Release Date: 11/18/2003   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Luciano Pavarotti,  Renata Tebaldi,  Maria Callas,  Birgit Nilsson
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  • 108.
    Regina Resnik - Dramatic Scenes & Arias
    Regina Resnik - Dramatic Scenes & Arias
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 475017 Release Date: 08/12/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.,  George Forrest,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Richard Strauss  ... 
    Performer:  Waldemar Kmentt,  Regina Resnik,  Robert Merrill,  Peter Gougaloff  ... 
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan,  Annuncio Paolo Mantovani,  Mstislav Rostropovich,  Sir Georg Solti  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  Vienna State Opera Chorus,  Mike Sammes Singers  ... 
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  • 109.
    Ritorna Vincitor! - The Legendary Birgit Nilsson
    Ritorna Vincitor! - The Legendary Birgit Nilsson
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 000018102 Release Date: 05/13/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frederick Loewe,  Ture Rangström,  Edvard Grieg,  Jean Sibelius  ... 
    Performer:  Birgit Nilsson,  Gerhard Stolze,  Walter Berry,  Virgilio Carbonari
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan,  Bertil Bokstedt,  Sir Colin Davis,  Hans Knappertsbusch  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  Vienna Opera Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 110.
    Great Stars Of Opera, Vol. 2 - Bell Telephone Hour
    Great Stars Of Opera, Vol. 2 - Bell Telephone Hour
    Label: Video Artists International   Catalog: 4232 Release Date: 04/22/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini,  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Birgit Nilsson
    Conductor:  Donald Voorhees
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra
    On sale! $34.95
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  • 111.
    The Very Best Of Franco Corelli
    The Very Best Of Franco Corelli
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 85084 Release Date: 04/22/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Giacomo Puccini,  Charles Gounod  ... 
    Performer:  Franco Corelli,  Lucine Amara,  Mario Spina,  Tito Gobbi  ... 
    Conductor:  Rafaele Mingardo,  Lovro von Matacic,  Franco Ferraris,  Alain Lombard  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Chorus,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $15.99
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  • 112.
    Beethoven: Symphony No 6, Etc / Klemperer, Nilsson, Et Al
    Beethoven: Symphony No 6, Etc / Klemperer, Nilsson, Et Al
    Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century   Catalog: 67966 Release Date: 04/08/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Birgit Nilsson
    Conductor:  Otto Klemperer
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra
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  • 113.
    Operamania
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 44120 Release Date: 10/29/2002   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini,  Georges Bizet,  Umberto Giordano,  Charles Gounod  ... 
    Performer:  Giuseppe Di Stefano,  Marilyn Horne,  Renata Tebaldi,  Carlo Bergonzi  ... 
    Conductor:  Franco Patanè,  Henry Lewis,  Tullio Serafin,  Nello Santi  ... 
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  • 114.
    Mozart: Idomeneo / Busch, Lewis, Simoneau, Jurinac, Et Al
    Mozart: Idomeneo / Busch, Lewis, Simoneau, Jurinac, Et Al
    Label: Symposium   Catalog: 1274/75 Release Date: 09/24/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Sena Jurinac,  Birgit Nilsson,  Alfred Poell,  Alexander Young  ... 
    Conductor:  Fritz Busch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra,  Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
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  • 115.
    Les Introuvables Du Chant Wagnèrien
    Les Introuvables Du Chant Wagnèrien
    Label: Emi Studio   Catalog: 64008 Release Date: 09/10/2002   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Emanuel List,  Fritz Wolff,  Alexander Kipnis,  Lauritz Melchior  ... 
    Conductor:  Eduard Mörike,  Siegfried Wagner,  Robert Heger,  Leo Blech  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Staatskapelle Orchestra,  Berlin Staatskapelle Chorus,  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra  ... 
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  • 116.
    Wagner: Tannhauser / Windgassen, Nilsson, Fischer-Dieskau, Gerdes
    Wagner: Tannhauser / Windgassen, Nilsson, Fischer-Dieskau, Gerdes
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 471708 Release Date: 09/10/2002   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Adelheide Tettenborn,  Birgit Nilsson,  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,  Wolfgang Windgassen  ... 
    Conductor:  Otto Gerdes
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Deutsche Oper Orchestra,  Berlin Deutsche Oper Chorus
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  • 117.
    The Compact Opera Collection - Wagner: Die Walküre/Leinsdorf
    The Compact Opera Collection - Wagner: Die Walküre/Leinsdorf
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 470443 Release Date: 08/20/2002   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  David Ward,  Birgit Nilsson,  Rita Gorr,  Julia Malyon  ... 
    Conductor:  Erich Leinsdorf
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra
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  • 118.
    Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde / Böhm, Nilsson, Vickers,
    Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde / Böhm, Nilsson, Vickers,
    Label: Kultur Video   Catalog: 2230 Release Date: 05/14/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Jon Vickers,  Birgit Nilsson
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm
    On sale! $29.99
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  • 119.
    Opera Obsession! - Opera D'oro's Greatest Hits
    Opera Obsession! - Opera D'oro's Greatest Hits
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 1001 Release Date: 03/05/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi,  Georges Bizet,  Alfredo Catalani,  Jules Massenet  ... 
    Performer:  Placido Domingo,  Martina Arroyo,  Fiorenza Cossotto,  Alfredo Kraus  ... 
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado,  Armando La Rosa Parodi,  Arturo Basile,  Peter Maag  ... 
    CD: $6.99
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  • 120.
    Jon Vickers - A Tribute On His 75th Birthday
    Jon Vickers - A Tribute On His 75th Birthday
    Label: Vai Audio   Catalog: 1201 Release Date: 12/11/2001   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Richard Strauss,  Richard Wagner  ... 
    Performer:  Jon Vickers,  Richard Woitach,  Cornell MacNeil,  Bruno Tomaselli  ... 
    Conductor:  Juan Emilio Martini,  Horst Stein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Orchestra,  Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Chorus
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  • 121.
    The Great Operas Of Giacomo Puccini
    The Great Operas Of Giacomo Puccini
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 5002 Release Date: 11/06/2001   Number of Discs: 8
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini
    Performer:  Manuel Ausensi,  Carmen Rigai,  Diego Monjo,  Bernabé Marti  ... 
    Conductor:  Gianfranco Rivoli,  Antonino Votto,  Thomas Schippers,  Carlo Felice Cillario
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Spanish Radio/TV Orchestra,  Spanish Radio/TV Chorus,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Chorus  ... 
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  • 122.
    Beethoven: Fidelio / Nilsson, Kleiber, Hopf, Schoffler Et Al
    Beethoven: Fidelio / Nilsson, Kleiber, Hopf, Schoffler Et Al
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 1322 Release Date: 09/04/2001   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Ingeborg Wenglor,  Hans Braun,  Peter Witsch,  Walter Koller  ... 
    Conductor:  Erich Kleiber
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cologne West German Radio Chorus,  Cologne West German Radio Symphony Orchestra
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  • 123.
    Strauss: Elektra / Sawallisch, Nilsson, Stewart, Et Al
    Strauss: Elektra / Sawallisch, Nilsson, Stewart, Et Al
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 1300 Release Date: 07/17/2001   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Strauss
    Performer:  Ingrid Bjöner,  Viorica Cortez,  Timo Callio,  Ivo Ingram  ... 
    Conductor:  Wolfgang Sawallisch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Rome,  Rome Opera House Chorus
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  • 124.
    Carlo Bergonzi - The Sublime Voice
    Carlo Bergonzi - The Sublime Voice
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 467023 Release Date: 06/12/2001   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi,  Pietro Mascagni,  Giacomo Puccini,  Ruggero Leoncavallo  ... 
    Performer:  Carlo Bergonzi,  Ettore Bastianini,  Dame Joan Sutherland,  Dora Carral  ... 
    Conductor:  Gianandrea Gavazzeni,  John Pritchard,  Herbert von Karajan,  Sir Georg Solti  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra,  Florence Maggio Musicale Chorus,  Florence Maggio Musicale Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $16.99
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  • 125.
    Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde / Bohm, Vickers, Berry, Et Al
    Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde / Bohm, Vickers, Berry, Et Al
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 1297 Release Date: 05/01/2001   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Birgit Nilsson,  Jon Vickers,  Walter Berry,  Bengt Rundgren  ... 
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  ORTF National Orchestra
    On sale! $20.98
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