Birgit Nilsson

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Birgit Nilsson

Birgit Nilsson , 1918-2005, Swedish soprano. Her powerful voice first came to international attention at the Munich Opera, where she was heard (1954-55) as Brünnhilde in Wagner's Die Walküre and in the title role in Strauss's Salome. In 1959 she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as Isolde. Although she was particularly noted for Wagnerian roles, Nilsson also performed in the Italian repertoire, notably as Turandot and Aïda. She retired in 1984.

Bibliography: See her autobiography (1995, tr. 2007).

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Nilsson, (Märta) Birgit

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Nilsson, (Märta) Birgit [ Birgit Svennsson] (b Karup, 1918). Swed. soprano. Opera début Stockholm 1946 (Agathe in Der Freischütz). Sang variety of roles in Stockholm, esp. Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, and Strauss. Glyndebourne 1951. Sang Brünnhilde in Der Ring des Nibelungen, Munich 1955. Bayreuth début 1954 and sang Brünnhilde there in 1960s, being acknowledged as Flagstad's successor as leading Wagnerian sop. Outstanding Turandot at La Scala 1958. CG début 1957; Amer. début (S. Francisco) 1956; NY Met 1959. Retired 1984.

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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Nilsson, (Märta) Birgit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Nilsson, (Märta) Birgit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (November 25, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-NilssonMrtaBirgit.html

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Nilsson, (Märta) Birgit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved November 25, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-NilssonMrtaBirgit.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Domingo wins inaugural Birgit Nilsson Prize News Wire article from: AP Online; 2/20/2009
	Placido Domingo wins $1M Nilsson Prize for opera News Wire article from: AP Worldstream; 2/20/2009
	New $1 million Nilsson classical music prize News Wire article from: AP Worldstream; 12/5/2008

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