Meyer, Kerstin (Margareta)
Meyer, Kerstin (Margareta)
Meyer, Kerstin (Margareta) , Swedish mezzo-soprano; b. Stockholm, April 3, 1928. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music (1948–50) and at the Opera School (1950–52) in Stockholm; also at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena and at the Salzburg Mozarteum. In 1952 she made her operatic debut as Azucena at the Royal Theater in Stockholm, where she subsequently sang regularly; also made guest appearances in numerous European opera centers and toured widely as a concert artist. In 1960 she made her first appearance at London’s Covent Garden as Dido in the English-language production of Les Troyens. On Oct. 29, 1960, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Carmen, remaining on its roster until 1963; also appeared at the Bayreuth Festivals (1962–65). In 1963 she was made a Royal Swedish Court Singer. Following her retirement, she served as director of the Opera School in Stockholm (1984–94). In 1985 she was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She excelled particularly in contemporary operas, most notably in the works of Schuller, Searle, Henze, Maw, and Ligeti; among her standard portrayals were Orfeo, Dor abella, Fricka, Octavian, and Clytemnestra.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire