The 2023 Birgit Nilsson Stipendium is awarded to Swedish mezzo-soprano Ida Ränzlöv, who receives SEK 200 000 (c. 18 000 euros) on 11 August when she performs in recital during this summer’s Birgit Nilsson Days.

First presented by Birgit Nilsson in 1973, the Stipendium has supported 46 young Swedish singers over the last 50 years, including several who went on to establish successful international careers, such as Nina Stemme, Malin Byström, Hillevi Martinpelto, Anna Larsson and John Lundgren.

“I feel great joy and gratitude for this encouragement and support at the beginning of my career” says Ida Ränzlöv. “You can prepare some roles on your own, but if you want to see a Wagner specialist or work with a Czech coach for a year, you need support. So in terms of furthering my career, this is a gift from above.”

Ida Ränzlöv studied at the Malmö Academy of Music and Royal College of Music Opera Studio in London, graduating in 2018. She joined the Staatsoper Stuttgart as an ensemble member in 2019, where this month she performs Meg Page (Falstaff). Recent roles on the same stage include Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Warwara (Káťa Kabanová) and Rosina (The Barber of Seville). In 2022 Ida appeared as Cherubino (The Marriage of Figaro) at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and with Glyndebourne Touring. She has also participated in productions at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen and Confidencen Opera Festival in Ulriksdal (Stockholm), where she returns this summer for a new production of Rameau’s opera Dardanus.

Ida Ränzlöv’s Stipendium recital with pianist Magnus Svensson takes place on 11 August in Västra Karup church – the same parish church where Birgit Nilsson regularly sang throughout her life and where she presented many of the Stipendiums personally.

In the same week the Birgit Nilsson Days feature a concert by this summer’s masterclass students under the guidance of Anne Sofie von Otter (10 August) and an open-air concert performance of Tosca in the grounds of the Birgit Nilsson Museum featuring soloists Joyce El-Khoury, Michael Fabiano and John Lundgren (12 August).