Baritone Luthando Qave, who grew up in South Africa but has lived and worked in Sweden for several years, will receive the 2026 Birgit Nilsson Stipendium of SEK 250,000 (approx. USD 27,000). Together with pianist Magnus Svensson, Luthando will give his Stipendium recital on 7 August at Birgit's Church in Västra Karup, as part of this year's Birgit Nilsson Festival.  The Stipendium, founded by Birgit Nilsson in 1969, forms part of the legendary soprano’s legacy, and is awarded annually to…

On Friday evening (August 8) soprano Karolina Bengtsson received this year’s Birgit Nilsson Scholarship when she performed  to a full house at Västra Karup church.  Following her recital, Karolina received the diploma and scholarship – worth SEK 250,000 (c. 26 000 US$) – from the chairman of the jury, Bengt Hall.  Together with pianist Magnus Svensson, Karolina performed a broad and varied programme that culminated in Ophelia’s aria from Ambroise Thomas’ opera “Hamlet", followed by the encore “I Could Have…

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 -…

The Birgit Nilsson Stipendium is announced on May 17 – the singer's birthday – and the award ceremony with a concert takes place in Västra Karup's church during the Birgit Nilsson Festival on August 8, 2025. The 2024 Stipendium recipient was Matilda Sterby, who received a scholarship of SEK 250,000., Se all recipients here

Soprano Matilda Sterby received this year's Birgit Nilsson Stipendium in Västra Karup's church yesterday.  Together with the pianist Matti Hirvonen, they offered brilliant interplay. The presenter Stefan Johansson was as usual fantastic. Elisabeth Boström, vice-president of the Stipendium fund, handed over the Stipendium - SEK 250,000. Program Stipendium recital https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHM-jm74Cts&t=1523s

Swedish soprano Matilda Sterby has been named this year’s Birgit Nilsson Stipendium artist, in an announcement made this morning at the museum in Båstad. Matilda, who recently returned home from Vienna following her Volksoper debut, will receive SEK 250 000 (c. 21500 euros) and performs her Stipendium recital, together with the pianist Matti Hirvonen in Birgit’s "own" Västra Karup church, as part of this year’s Birgit Nilsson Days celebrations. Matilda said: "It's a dream to receive this Stipendium, because it…

This year's Birgit Nilsson Stipendium will be announced on May 17, Birgit’s birthday and, as per tradition, there will be a ceremony and flag raising at the Birgit Nilsson Museum, as well as an Open House for the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Here is the program for May 17 at the Birgit Nilsson Museum: At 10:00 the flag is raised by Båstad's municipal councilor Johan Olsson Swanstein. At 11:00 Announcement of Birgit Nilsson Stipenidum 2024. Presentation by…

Sold out to the last seat and in front of a very enthusiastic audience, Ida Ränzlöv - this year's Birgit Nilsson scholarship holder - gave a traditional scholarship concert last night in Västra Karup's church together with the pianist Magnus Svensson. With a broad program - Bizet, Rossini, Strauss, Dvorak, Wagner and Rangström - Ida offered particularly liberally of her great knowledge. And the audience could unanimously state that she was a very well-deserved recipient of SEK 200,000 plus a…

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…

It was as if the roof lifted at Västra Karup’s church when this year’s Birgit Nilsson Stipendium recipient Cornelia Beskow opened her concert with a jubilant and rapturous interpretation of Elisabeth’s greeting song from Wagner’s Tannhäuser. In a program of great breadth, the lyrical-dramatic soprano offered Nordic romances and opera arias such as the Song to the Moon from Dvořák’s Rusalka and the letter scene from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Accompanist Elisabeth Boström also played Schubert’s Impromptu No. 4 in A…