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 support a singer’s continued artistic developement. Previous recipients include Nina Stemme, Malin Byström, Christina Nilsson and Matilda Sterby.
Bengt Hall, Chairman of the Foundation for the Birgit Nilsson Stipendium said: “With his fresh and youthful voice, Luthando Qave displays a remarkable baritone quality. In recent years, he has successfully portrayed roles as diverse as a virtuoso Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, an imposing Herald in Lohengrin and a harrowing terrorist, Mamoud, in John Adams’ Death of Klinghoffer.
Luthando Qave said: “I am both very happy and extremely proud to receive the Birgit Nilsson Stipendium. I will use it to study abroad. Above all, the scholarship gives me the courage to continue my artistic journey and to become the best artist I can be.”
Born and raised during apartheid in South Africa, Qave began singing with Cape Town Operaand made his European debut touring Sweden in Porgy and Bess. He moved to Sweden in 2008 to study at the University College of Opera, Stockholm, and continued at the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program in New York, before returning to Sweden to further pursue his onstage career.
Now a Swedish citizen, Qave performs regularly at opera houses such as the Royal Swedish Opera, Gothenburg Opera and Norrlandsoperan. At Malmö Opera, he recently performed the role of the Herald in Wagner’s Lohengrin and is currently appearing as Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen. His signature roles include Figaro in the new production of Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Royal Swedish Opera and Marcello in La bohème, the latter which he has also performed at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival.