List of Swedish operatic sopranos

This is a list of operatic sopranos and mezzo-sopranos who were born in Sweden or whose work is closely associated with that country.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Adèle Almati

A

Kerstin Avemo

• Eufrosyne Abrahamson (1836–1869), soprano who performed in operas mainly in Madrid and Vienna^[1]
• Adèle Almati (1861–1919), German-born Swedish mezzo-soprano who performed leading roles at the Royal Swedish Opera^[2]
• Ruth Althén (1890–1985), soprano at the Royal Swedish Opera, concert performer^[3]
• Vendela Andersson-Sörensen (1860–1926), soprano at the Royal Swedish Opera from 1882 to 1887^[4]
• Susanna Andersson (born 1977), soprano opera singer, performing internationally in opera and recitals^[5]
• Lovisa Augusti (c.1751–1790), German-born Swedish soprano who made her mark at the Royal Swedish Opera^[6]
• Kerstin Avemo (born 1973), coloratura soprano performing in opera houses and concert halls throughout Europe^[7]

B

• Maria Bengtsson (born 1975), soprano performing in Europe's major opera houses^[8]
• Julie Berwald (1822–1877), celebrated opera and concert singer, at the Royal Swedish Opera from 1847^[9]
• Irma Björck (1898–1993), mezzo-soprano opera and operetta singer at the Royal Swedish Opera^[10]
• Olga Björkegren (1857–1950), actress at the Swedish Theatre and singer at the Royal Swedish Opera^[11]
• Anna-Lisa Björling (1910–2006), soprano opera singer and actress, performing at the Royal Swedish Opera from 1948^[12]
• Karin Branzell (1891–1974}, mezzo-soprano at the New York Metropolitan Opera and in Europe, noted for Wagnerian roles^[13]
• Ingela Brimberg (born 1964), soprano and mezzo-soprano opera singer who has performed in Sweden, Germany and Belgium^[14]
• Malin Byström (born 1973), soprano performing leading roles in Europe's major opera houses^[15]

C

• Sara Cahier (1870–1951), American-born Swedish mezzo-soprano in opera and lieder, performed in Europe and New York^[16]
• Justina Casagli (1794–1841), soprano at the Royal Swedish Opera, also performed in Italy and Germany^[17]
• Julia Claussen (1879–1941), mezzo-soprano with the Royal Swedish Opera, also in London, Paris and the United States^[18]

D

• Tove Dahlberg (born 1973), mezzo-soprano with Royal Swedish Opera, also in London and the United States^[19]
• Kjerstin Dellert (1925–2018), soprano with the Royal Swedish opera, later theatre manager^[20]
• Katija Dragojevic (born 1970), mezzo-soprano and recitalist active across Europe^[21]

Mathilda Ebeling

E

• Mathilda Ebeling (1826–1851), concert pianist and soprano opera singer, performed at the Royal Swedish Opera and the Royal Opera in Berlin^[22]

• Dina Edling (1854–1935), mezzo-soprano with the Royal Swedish Opera from 1877 to 1892^[23]
• Selma Ek (1856–1941), leading soprano of her day, remembered for her roles in the operas of Mozart, Verdi and Wagner^[24]
• Wilhelmina Enbom (1804–1880), notable Swedish soprano in the 1830s at the Royal Swedish Opera^[25]
• Mathilda Enequist (1833–1898), opera singer and singing instructor known as Signora Biondini^[26]

F

• Maria Fontosh (born 1976), Ukrainian-born Russian soprano now in Sweden, performing at the Royal Swedish Opera^[27]
• Wilhelmina Fundin (1819–1911), soprano who sang at the Royal Swedish Opera for 30 years until 1871^[28]

Rosa Grünberg

G

• Maria Gelhaar (1858–1920), soprano who performed with the Royal Swedish Opera from 1883^[29]
• Mathilda Gelhaar (1814–1889), one of the most noted singers of the Swedish Opera in the 1840s and 1850s^[30]
• Wilhelmina Gelhaar (1837–1923), soprano at Stockholm's Royal Theatre from 1857, known in particular for her coloratura roles^[31]
• Mathilda Grabow (1852–1940), soprano considered to be one of the stars of Swedish opera in the late 19th century^[32]
• Rosa Grünberg (1878–1960), actress and soprano singer, considered a prima donna of Swedish opera in the early 1900s^[33]
• Ellen Gulbranson (1863–1947), soprano known for her roles in Wagnerian operas, also sang regualarly in Bayreuth^[34]

Davida Hesse-Lilienberg

H

• Lilly Hafgren (1884–1965), performed mainly in Germany, including Bayreuth
• Margareta Hallin (1931–2020), coloratura soprano, composer and actress, joined the Royal Swedish Opera in 1956 and toured internationally^[35]
• Malin Hartelius (born 1966), soprano who has performed mainly in Austria and Switzerland^[36]
• Signe Hebbe (1837–1926), soprano who sang throughout Europe in opera and concerts, later voice instructor^[37]
• Charlotte Hellekant (born 1962), mezzo-soprano active in opera mainly on American stages^[38]
• Davida Hesse-Lilienberg (1877–1964), soprano who performed leading roles with the Royal Swedish Opera until 1909^[39]
• Cecilia Hjortsberg (born 1973), soprano who has sung at the Royal Danish Theatre since 2005^[40]
• Thekla Hofer (1852–1938), operatic soprano in Stockholm, Saint Petersburg and Riga, voice teacher^[41]
• Hannah Holgersson (born 1976), soprano who has performed mainly as a concert soloist^[42]

J

• Agnes Janson (1861–1947), mezzo-soprano opera singer and recitalist, voice teacher in Australia from 1906^[43]
• Busk Margit Jonsson (born 1929), soprano with the Royal Swedish Opera until 1983^[44]

K

Katarina Karnéus

• Katarina Karnéus (born 1965), mezzo-soprano opera singer and recitalist, active first in the UK and New York, later in Sweden^[45]
• Maria Keohane (bonr 1971), soloist who has performed in festivals throughout Europe and made many recordings^[46]
• Anna Maria Klemming (1864–1889), soprano, short but successful career with the Royal Swedish Opera until her early death^[47]

L

Jenny Lind (portrait by Eduard Magnus)

• Karin Langebo (1927–2019), soprano and harpist, active mainly in Sweden and Norway
• Nanny Larsén-Todsen (1884–1982), soprano active in Stockholm, Milan, New York and Bayreuth, notable for her roles in Wagner's operas^[48]
• Lisa Larsson (born 1967), soprano who has performed widely as a soloist in concerts and festivals^[49]
• Catarina Ligendza (born 1937), soprano active mainly in German opera houses and in Bayreuth, known for her Wagnerian performances^[50]
• Sofia Liljegren (1765–1795), Finnish-Swedish soprano who was a popular performer at the Royal Swedish Opera in the 1780s^[51]
• Elisabeth Lillström (1717–1791), early Swedish actress who performed in stage plays and in comic opera roles as a soprano^[52]
• Jenny Lind (1820–1887), highly regarded soprano, performed in Sweden, across Europe and in concerts throughout the United States^[53]
• Berit Lindholm (1934–2023), performed at Covent Garden and at the Metropolitan Opera, notable for roles in Wagner's operas^[54]
• Göta Ljungberg (1893–1955), major Wagnerian soprano of the 1920s, sang throughout America and Europe^[55]
• Magna Lykseth-Skogman (1874–1949), Norwegian-born Swedish soprano, prima donna of the Royal Swedish Opera^[56]

M

• Marie Louise Marcadet (1758–1804), opera singer and stage actress active in Stockholm and Paris^[57]
• Hillevi Martinpelto (born 1958), operatic soprano and recitalist performing in Sweden and internationally^[58]
• Kerstin Meyer (1928–2020), mezzo-soprano opera and concert performer mainly in Stockholm, Hamburg and London^[59]
• Louise Michaëli (1830–1875), prima donna soprano of the Royal Swedish opera, also successful in London^[60]
• Caroline Müller (1755–1826), highly successful Danish mezzo-soprano first in Copenhagen and later in Stockholm^[61]

Birgit Nilsson

N

• Birgit Nilsson (1918–2005), celebrated soprano in Sweden and internationally, best known for her roles in the operas of Wagner and Richard Strauss^[62]
• Christina Nilsson (1843-1921), coloratura soprano, internationally successful, mainly in Paris, London, North America and Moscow^[63]
• Henriette Nissen-Saloman (1819–1879), mezzo-soprano opera singer and pianist, active touring across Europe and engaged in Saint Petersburg^[64]
• Birgit Nordin (1934–2022), soprano with the Royal Swedish Opera remembered for her Mozart roles^[65]

O

• Elisabeth Olin (1740–1828), first prima donna of the Royal Swedish Opera from its inauguration in 1773^[66]
• Augusta Öhrström-Renard (1856–1921), mezzo-soprano at the Royal Danish Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera, concerts in France and North America^[67]
• Anna Oscàr (1875–1915), leading soprano at the Royal Swedish Opera in the early 20th century^[68]
• Carolina Östberg (1853–1924), celebrated soprano at the Royal Swedish Opera in the late 19th century, also performed in Denmark, Germany and Norway^[69]
• Anne Sofie von Otter (born 1955), mezzo-soprano opera performer, recitalist, and pop singer, with extensive discography^[70]

Miah Persson

P

• Gertrud Pålson-Wettergren (1897–1921), mezzo-soprano with the Royal Swedish Opera, also at the Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden^[71]
• Miah Persson (born 1969). soprano at the Royal Danish Opera and international concert performer^[72]

Q

• Isa Quensel (1905–1981), actress and soprano at the Royal Swedish Opera, appeared in over 50 films, plays and operas^[73]

R

• Christina Rahm (1763–1837), successful actress and soprano, active with the Stenborg Theatre Company in Stockholm^[74]
• Signe Rappe-Welden (1879–1974), soprano in Sweden and abroad, Bach recitalist, voice teacher^[75]
• Amalia Riégo (1850–1926), soprano with the Royal Danish Opera from 1872^[76]
• Elin Rombo (born 1976), soprano performing in Sweden and internationally in opera and recitals^[77]

S

• Hjördis Schymberg (1909–2008), coloratura and lyric soprano, active at the Royal Swedish Opera and internationally in recitals and operas^[78]
• Anna Sofia Sevelin (1790–1871), initially alto, later soprano, highly active with the Royal Swedish Opera until 1833^[79]
• Gitta-Maria Sjöberg (born 1957), Swedish-born soprano, soloist with the Royal Danish Theatre from 1987^[80]
• Elisabeth Söderström (1927–2009), soprano remembered for her roles in the operas of Rachmaninoff and Sibelius in Sweden and internationally^[81]
• Nina Stemme (born 1963), celebrated Wagnerian soprano, performing with opera companies across Europe and the United States^[82]
• Fredrika Stenhammar (1836–1880), soprano with the Royal Swedish Opera, later voice instructor^[83]
• Elisabet Strid (born 1976), soprano known for performances in the operas of Wagner and Strauss at many prominent venues^[84]

Camilla Tilling

• Birgitta Svendén (born 1952), mezzo-soprano known for Wagnerian performances at the Royal Swedish Opera, Metropolitan Opera and Bayreuth^[85]
• Erika Sunnegårdh (born 1966), soprano who has sung with the Metropolitan Opera as well as in Berlin, Malmö and Stockholm^[86]

T

• Bertha Tammelin (1836–1915), actress, mezzo-soprano opera singer, pianist, composer and drama instructor^[87]
• Iréne Theorin (born 1963), soprano in operas and recitals across Europe and in the United States, noted for her Wagnerian roles^[88]

Lilly Walleni

• Camilla Tilling (born 1971), soprano in opera and concert across Europe and in the United States^[89]
• Ingrid Tobiasson (born 1951), mezzo-soprano singing leading roles at the Royal Swedish Opera, also concert recitalist and recording artist^[90]

W

• Lilly Walleni (1875–1920), mezzo-soprano remembered for her Wagner role in German opera houses and Stockholm^[91]
• Elisabeth Wärnfeldt (born 1956), soprano opera and concert singer, author of libretti^[92]
• Jeanette Wässelius (1784–1853), leading prima donna of the Royal Swedish Opera in the early 19th century^[93]
• Sara Widén (1981–2014), soprano with the Royal Swedish Opera until her early death from cancer^[94]
• Henriette Widerberg (1796–1872), soprano, prima donna with the Royal Swedish Opera from 1820^[95]
• Hedvig Wigert (1748–1780), early soprano performer with the Royal Swedish Opera from its inauguration in 1773^[96]
• Zulamith Wellander (1857–1919), mezzo-soprano with the Royal Danish Opera, guest performer in Denmark and Germany, voice instructor^[97]