Söderström, Elisabeth (1927—)

Swedish soprano. Name variations: Elizabeth Soderstrom or Soederstroem. Born on May 7, 1927, in Stockholm, Sweden; studied with Andrejeva von Skilodz at the Royal Academy of Music and Opera School in Stockholm; married Sverker Olow, in 1950; children: three sons.

Debuted at Stockholm (1947), Glyndebourne (1957), Metropolitan Opera (1959), Covent Garden (1960); sang in premiere of Argento's The Aspern Papers in Dallas (1988); became artistic director of the Drottningholm Court Theater (1990).

At the Royal Opera in Stockholm, Elisabeth Söderström was part of a tightly knit ensemble which included Kerstin Meyer, Nicolai Gedda and Birgit Nilsson . Though neither large nor conventionally beautiful, her essentially lyric-soprano voice had a quick vibrato and silver purity, qualities that made her singing memorable. Söderström was a fascinating singing actress who was daring enough to perform the music of living composers. Among the modern roles she performed were the Governess in The Turn of the Screw, Jenny in Richard Rodney Bennett's The Mines of Sulphur, Daisie Doody in Blomdahl's Aniara, Elisabeth Zimmer in Henze's Elegy for Young Lovers, and the aging prima donna in Argento's The Aspern Papers. Her diversified career meant that Söderström did not always receive the international fame which she was due. Her recording career began late and does not capture her great vocal abilities.

suggested reading:

Söderström, Elisabeth. In My Own Key (autobiography), 1979.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia