Malena Ernman

Malena Ernman is a renowned Swedish opera singer, known for her powerful and expressive voice, who has performed in numerous opera houses and concert halls around the world, including the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has worked with prominent conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Claudio Abbado, and Pierre Boulez, and has been a member of the Swedish Royal Opera. Ernman's repertoire includes a wide range of opera roles, from Mozart's The Magic Flute to Verdi's La Traviata, and she has also performed in oratorios and concerts, including Handel's Messiah and Bach's Mass in B minor. She has been recognized with several awards, including the Jussi Björling prize and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music's Christina Nilsson award.

● Early Life and Education

Malena Ernman was born in Uppsala, Sweden, and began her musical studies at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where she was a student of Solwig Grippe and Gösta Winbergh. She later continued her studies at the Music Academy in Copenhagen, Denmark, and participated in masterclasses with renowned singers such as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Ernman's early career was influenced by her work with conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Herbert Blomstedt, and she made her professional debut at the Drottningholm Palace Theatre in Stockholm, performing in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro alongside singers like Håkan Hagegård and Anne Sofie von Otter.

● Career

Ernman's career has taken her to many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Covent Garden in London, and the Vienna State Opera. She has performed a wide range of roles, from Puccini's Tosca to Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, and has worked with directors such as Franco Zeffirelli and Robert Wilson. Ernman has also been a frequent guest at international music festivals, including the Salzburg Festival, the Bayreuth Festival, and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where she has performed alongside singers like Plácido Domingo and Renée Fleming. In addition to her work in opera, Ernman has also performed in concerts and recitals, including appearances with the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

● Personal Life

Ernman is married to Svante Thunberg, a Swedish actor and theatre director, and they have two daughters, Greta Thunberg and Beata Thunberg. The family has been involved in various environmental and social causes, including climate change activism, and Ernman has used her platform to raise awareness about these issues, often performing at benefit concerts and charity events for organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and the United Nations. Ernman has also been recognized for her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has supported various charitable organizations, including the Swedish Red Cross and the Stockholm City Mission.

● Discography

Ernman's discography includes recordings of operas, oratorios, and concerts, as well as solo albums and collaborations with other artists. Some of her notable recordings include Mozart's The Magic Flute with the Royal Opera House and La Scala's production of Verdi's La Traviata, both conducted by Riccardo Muti. Ernman has also recorded Handel's Messiah with the Berlin Philharmonic and Bach's Mass in B minor with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis. Her solo albums include a collection of Swedish folk songs and a recording of Puccini's Tosca with the Royal Swedish Opera, conducted by Pierre Boulez.

● Notable Performances

Some of Ernman's most notable performances include her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as Puccini's Tosca, her performance as Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier at the Vienna State Opera, and her appearance as Mozart's The Queen of the Night at the Royal Opera House in London. Ernman has also performed at numerous music festivals, including the Salzburg Festival, where she sang the role of Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni, and the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where she performed the role of Countess Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Additionally, Ernman has given recitals and concerts at venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Wigmore Hall in London, often performing with pianists like Anders Kilström and Roland Pöntinen.