| BIRGIT NILSSON’S LEGACY 2022 |
| ◆ Birgit Nilsson Stipendium awarded to Cornelia Beskow |
| ◆ 17 May: Birgit Nilsson Prize to be announced |
| ◆ 17 & 18 May: Birthday concerts in the new Birgit Nilsson Hall |
| ◆ 28 June: Birgit Nilsson Museum re-opens |
| ◆ 8 – 13 August: Birgit Nilsson Days |
| ◆ October: Birgit Nilsson Prize award ceremony in Stockholm |
 |
| “I’ve always tried to remember what my mother used to tell me: Stay close to the earth. Then when you fall down, it won’t hurt so much.” |
| From farmer’s daughter to operatic legend, Birgit Nilsson never lost sight of who she was and how she achieved it. By creating an endowment, her goal was to inspire future generations to remain true to themselves in their quest for musical excellence. 2022 brings Birgit Nilsson’s legacy together for the first time, with events planned throughout the year, both in and around the farm where she grew up in South Sweden and in Stockholm where her career took flight. |
 2022 Birgit Nilsson StipendiumCornelia Beskow |
| The 2022 Birgit Nilsson Stipendium is awarded to the Swedish lyric dramatic soprano, Cornelia Beskow, who receives 200.000 SEK (equivalent to $20.000) on August 12 when she will perform in Birgit Nilsson’s parish church at Västra Karup, as a part of the celebrations for this year’s “Birgit Nilsson Days”. |
 “Birgit Nilsson is not only my greatest vocal idol, she has also inspired me with her humour and her wisdom. She said for example: ‘Achieve something you have always dreamed of, and you will experience something you could never have dreamed of.’ That is how I feel when I receive her great scholarship!”Cornelia Beskow |
| Winner of the 2017 Lauritz Melchior International Singing Competition, where she was awarded all four prizes, Cornelia Beskow trained at the Copenhagen Opera Academy (Soloist Class, 2009-2012) and the Stockholm University of the Arts (Masters Degree in Opera 2013–2015). She made her national debut at the Royal Swedish Opera as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (2015) and her international debut at the Wiener Staatsoper as Elsa in Lohengrin (2020). |
| “As Elsa, Cornelia Beskow presented herself to the Viennese audience for the first time” wrote the Wiener Zeitung. “The young Swede has a remarkable voice with a strong, pithy pitch, powerful stamina and lyrical sweetness. She managed to create a credible portrayal of the role, between dreaminess and trepidation.” |
| This Spring Cornelia Beskow made her debut as Jenufa in a new production by Keith Warner at the Oslo Opera. She returns to Norway in the summer to perform Senta in Der fliegende Holländer on the spectacular outdoor stage of Opera Østfold at Fredrikstens Festning. |
| The Birgit Nilsson Stipendium was created in 1969 in memory of Birgit’s first teacher, Ragnar Blennow, who played an influential role in her early years as an aspiring singer. The founding capital was set aside from the revenue of a performance of Tosca at the Malmö City Theatre in which she sang the title role. Previous recipients have included Gitta-Maria Sjöberg, Hillevi Martinpelto, Karl-Magnus Fredriksson, Susanne Resmark, Michael Weinius, John Lundgren, Anna Larsson, Nina Stemme, Malin Byström, Daniel Johansson, Sofie Asplund, Emma Sventelius and Johanna Wallroth. |
| Read more about Cornelia Beskow and the Stipendium here |
 2022 Birgit Nilsson PrizeAnnouncement: 17 May live streamed from the Museum |
| In keeping with tradition, the recipient of the 2022 Birgit Nilsson Prize will be revealed on Birgit’s birthday and, for the first time, the announcement will be made from the museum. |
| Follow the Prize announcement live on 17 May at 11.00 CET www.birgitnilsson.com |
| As a part of the Birgit Nilsson’ birthday celebrations the museum is co-hosting two concerts with former Stipendium artists at the Bjäre Peninsula’s brand new Arts Centre – Ravinen. Sofie Asplund (2013) performs Britten’s Les Illuminations in a concert with Musica Vitae (17 May at 18.00) and Johanna Wallroth (2021) presents a recital programme of music by Agathe Backer Grøndahl, Mahler, Debussy, Berg, Charpentier and Zemlinsky, accompanied by Magnus Svensson (18 May at 18.00) |
The Prize Ceremony will take place this October in Stockholm |
 Birgit Nilsson Museumopen 28 June – 28 August |
| The farm where Birgit Nilsson lived with her parents until she was 23 years old, is now a museum giving visitors a glimpse into the simple upbringing in which Sweden’s most famous opera singer was born into. |
 |
| In addition to the farm-house, preserved as it was during her lifetime, the museum presents both a permanent and new exhibition each year, exploring the opera singer’s life and work. The museum also houses a unique collection of recordings documenting Birgit Nilsson’s entire career and is the starting point for a 9km hike across the Bjäre countryside, in Birgit’s own footsteps. |
 Birgit Nilsson DaysMasterclasses and Concerts 8 – 13 August |
| Four days of masterclasses led by Hilllevi Martinpelto, are followed by a long weekend of concerts hosted by the Birgit Nilsson Museum. |
 |
| The 2022 Birgit Nilsson Days features recitals by this summer’s masterclass students (11 August), and Stipendium artist, Cornelia Beskow (12 August), as well as a large family outdoor concert with soloists, a chorus of 100 local singers, the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra and conductor, Evan Rogister. |
| |
| |
2022 BIRGIT NILSSON STIPENDIUM awarded to Cornelia Beskow.
