FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE AWARDED THE BIRGIT NILSSON PRIZE 2025

The world’s largest classical music prize honours the Festival d’Aix-En-Provence for outstanding artistic achievements, giving special recognition to the 2021 premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s Opera “Innocence” President of the Birgit Nilsson Stiftelsen, Susanne Rydén today announced that the 2025 Birgit Nilsson Prize – the world’s largest prize in classical music at 1 million US dollars - is awarded to the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. The prestigious French Opera Festival, which is currently preparing for its 77th edition this summer, becomes the first…

FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE AWARDED THE BIRGIT NILSSON PRIZE 2025

Karolina Bengtsson awarded this year’s Birgit Nilsson Stipendium

SEK 250,000 will be awarded to this year's Birgit Nilsson Stipendium recipient, Swedish soprano Karolina Bengtsson. The official announcement was made on May 17, Birgit's birthday, during celebrations at the Birgit Nilsson Museum. On August 8, Karolina Bengtsson will give her Stipendium recital in Birgit's “own” Västra Karup church. "What an honour! It is an incredible feeling to be awarded the prestigious Birgit Nilsson Stipendium” said Karolina on receiving the news.”In addition to the honour, it is also recognition -…

Karolina Bengtsson awarded this year’s Birgit Nilsson Stipendium

A museum for all senses

Birgit Nilsson lived on the farm in Svenstad with her parents until she was 23 years old. It was a simple upbringing without electricity or running water and the first amenities were not installed until the 1930s. Birgit helped with all the chores on the farm. She thinned beets, planted potatoes, harvested hay and milked cows. In other words, it was a life far removed from what she would later experience as one of the world’s most famous opera singers.…

A museum for all senses

Nilsson takes over the role at the Nilsson Festival

Sweden's newest international star - soprano Christina Nilsson - will sing Verdi's Aida at Båstad's Tennis Stadium, as the finale of the Birgit Nilsson Festival 2025. She recently made her New York debut performing Aida to standing ovations and acclaim from the press and audience at the Metropolitan Opera - perhaps the most prestigious opera house in the world. In Båstad, Christina replaces the Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury. With acclaimed performances three years running at the Birgit Nilsson Days, El-Khoury…

Nilsson takes over the role at the Nilsson Festival

Birgit Nilsson Festival

Opera on Sweden’s famous Tennis Centre Court in Båstad, a special exhibition, concerts and talks at the Birgit Nilsson Museum, the Stipendium Recital in “Birgit’s Church” at Västra Karup, a public masterclass at Ravinen Cultural Centre, plus screenings of historic performances and tv appearances at the local Scala Cinema. The 2025 Birgit Nilsson Festival presents more than 20 events between 3 & 9 August. “With this year‘s Festival we are aiming higher than ever before. It will be a programme…

Birgit Nilsson Festival

Singing is like growing in Tilling’s garden

Camilla Tilling leads the Birgit Nilsson Master Class 2025 Camilla Tilling trained as a singing teacher but instead took a "detour" and became a great soprano favorite with conductors, audiences and critics. But - in the middle of an international career, this summer she gets to show off her pedagogical skills and train the next generation of singers at a Master class in front of an audience during the Birgit Nilsson Festival. After Camilla started the festival week as a…

Singing is like growing in Tilling’s garden

The Artist Birgit Nilsson

Birgit Nilsson (1918-2005) was one of the greatest opera singers of the twentieth century. Her superb voice and supreme stage presence were praised by critics and audiences alike, bringing her international recognition as the world’s leading dramatic soprano and a legendary interpreter of especially Wagner, Strauss and Puccini.  Birgit Nilsson made her operatic debut at the Swedish Royal Opera in 1946 and achieved international stardom in the mid 1950’s with her debuts in Vienna, Bayreuth, Buenos Aires, San Francisco and Chicago.  She added a…

The Artist Birgit Nilsson

A singer’s festival without precedent in Sweden today

Four international world stars are on their way to the centre court in Båstad. This time it's not about tennis - but opera! On Saturday 10 August, one of the most beloved of operas will be performed - Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. A story about love, infidelity, betrayal and power directed by Staffan Valdemar Holm. It all takes place at the Tennis Stadium, with top Swedish singers, the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra and a choir conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi…

A singer’s festival without precedent in Sweden today