Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Swedish opera singer who studied at the Stockholm Royal Academy of Music and made her debut at the Swedish Opera.
On the island
Eight records
The keepsakes
No book or luxury recorded for this episode.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:08In what part of Sweden were you born?
I was born in Saad, Sweden, not far away from Malmer.
Presenter asks
0:35When did you first show interest in music? How young were you?
Oh, it was before I could walk. I walked very late and I sang very early, you know.
Presenter asks
1:14Did your family encourage you in your music?
Oh, no, no, not at all. My father was very much against it. And uh my mother, well, she wanted to see me happy, but at the same time she was very unsure
Presenter asks
1:46Your debut in the [role of] the fresh roots — I believe you had to learn that part very quickly.
Yes, I had to jump in with three days' notes. I had to learn the the role in three days and uh … It was very difficult and the the conductor was very difficult too and I cried a lot and I have no handkerchief, you know, I have to borrow from somebody else and On to the next rehearsal I brought a half a dozen handkerchiefs with me and I was terrible nervous in that role. But it went fine.
Presenter asks
3:10What was your first appearance outside Sweden?
That was in Glimeborn. Fifty-one, Fritz Busch brought me there. I sang um Eletra in Mozart's I Domineo.
Presenter asks
5:24Where is your home now?
Oh wherever I hang my hat, as as the American says. I really don't know. I have so many homes and I feel home all over wherever I I go. I'm five months in New York every year and I have an apartment, so I feel very much home there.
Presenter asks
5:47How far ahead are your engagements planned?
At least two years, sometimes more.
Presenter asks
7:07Are you superstitious? As so many singers are.
No, I'm not.
Presenter asks
7:11Have you any one ambition that you haven't so far realized? Any one role that you want to sing that nobody's asked you to yet?
Well, if I would have an ambition to sing another role, any opera house would be happy to make it with me. But I have still little time to study and l and learn, but uh I will study Elektra of Strauss. I think it's s at least six or seven opera houses who has been asking for it already. Not before the spring of 'sixty five.
“I had to jump in with three days' notes. I had to learn the the role in three days and uh … It was very difficult and the the conductor was very difficult too and I cried a lot and I have no handkerchief, you know, I have to borrow from somebody else and On to the next rehearsal I brought a half a dozen handkerchiefs with me.”
“Fritz Busch he came to the Stockholm Opera for to conduct Macbeth and they were trying to find a lady Macbeth and um Fritz Busch heard me only by a chance, and he wanted me as Lady Macbeth, but everybody was very much against it. But anyhow I got the role and I was very happy.”
“the jet plane, they kill the voice, I say, because one evening you can sing in Berlin, the other evening you can sing in New York. For instance, last year I did one television show in Stockholm on a Sunday, and next and the other Monday I did another television show in New York.”
“Maybe where I grew up on the farm the the life in the country, close to the earth, has made me strong.”