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Birgit Nilsson Museum

28 August 2021 / 6 Comments

Birgit Nilsson Museum - starry-eyed in the Scanian soil

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Birgit Nilsson Museum tells the story of the farmer's daughter who became a world star. Sometimes reality surpasses poetry, and this is such an occasion. Do you like fascinating stories about special people? Then the Birgit Nilsson Museum is for you!

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Birgit Nilsson Museum

The Birgit Nilsson Museum is perhaps particularly interesting for those with an interest in opera, but a visit here is also exciting for all the rest of us who are relatively interested in opera. The museum not only tells you about the performing arts themselves, but also takes you on Birgit Nilsson's fascinating journey through life.

You can't take photos inside the museum, only outside and in the stable café, so in this report we combine our own photos with press photos provided by the museum.

Birgit Nilsson Museum

The Birgit Nilsson Museum is located in Svenstad, just outside Båstad, on the Bjäre Peninsula in Skåne.

A farm girl who loved to sing

Birgit Nilsson grew up on a farm in Skåne, the daughter of a farmer. The farm had been in the family since the 18th century and here Birgit grew up in simple conditions, without electricity or running water.

Birgit Nilsson Museum
Svenstad from above, photo: Cesari Righetti

Birgit lived on the farm with her parents Nils and Justina until she was 23 years old. Here she worked at chores such as thinning beets, picking potatoes, harvesting hay and milking cows. While doing her work, she sang, and dreamed of becoming an opera singer. But how would a simple farm girl from Skåne get such an opportunity?

Birgit Nilsson with father Nils and mother Justina. Press photo. From the Birgit Nilsson collections.

Opera singer and world artist

The story of Birgit Nilsson, because that's what this story should be called, is incomparable. Not only did Birgit, at the urging of singing teacher Ragnar Blennow, apply for and be admitted to the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. She also became a world artist and one of the greatest classical singers of the 20th century. She made her debut at the Royal Theatre in Stockholm in 1946 - as an understudy at very short notice - and went on to have a rocketing career on the world's opera stages.

Turandot 1961. Press photo.
Turandot 1961. Press photo.

Birgit Nilsson sang everything from Mozart to operas by Richard Strauss, Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. She became best known for her powerful and passionate performance of Richard Wagner's works.

Birgit performed dozens of major roles, such as Aida, Turandot, Tosca, Electra and Salome, and appeared on the major stages in all corners of the world. She sang in several different languages and learnt many hour-long operas, sometimes with very little preparation time.

Despite the challenges, she showed that she could always deliver - even when she was injured and rushed to the performance from the hospital against all odds with her arm in a sling. She became so well known and sought after that she negotiated with opera houses around the world that she would always have the same salary as the highest paid artist at the time.

Birgit Nilsson Museum
Tosca, Copenhagen 1978. Press photo.

Visiting the Birgit Nilsson Museum

The Birgit Nilsson Museum consists partly of an exhibition, with a theme that is renewed every season, and partly of the farmhouse, which can only be visited with a guide. As the museum can only accommodate a limited number of visitors, and as guided tours are only available at certain times, it is advisable to book your visit in advance.

We visited the museum at a profit and loss and therefore could not see the farmhouse. However, we were lucky and were able to visit the exhibition, which this year has the theme "Birgit Nilsson - on the stages of the world".

The exhibition is not large - just a few rooms - but the experience is all the greater. You can borrow an audio guide, which takes you through the exhibition and the different periods of Birgit's life in a very nice and educational way. Sometimes she tells the story herself, and sometimes there are funny and humorous anecdotes from her life as a superstar.

Birgit Nilsson Museum
Birgit Nilsson Museum. Press photo.

None of us had any special relationship with Birgit Nilsson's singing, but when we were able to 'follow' her journey, we were truly fascinated. This must have been an extremely strong and talented woman. It's not only the artistic achievements that impress, but also her personality, her ability to get around, her joy of life, her love of her hometown and her loving relationship with her husband Bertil.

Birgit Nilsson visiting her home in Svenstad. Press photo.

Visiting the farmhouse

Since we had not booked a guided tour in advance, we did not have the opportunity to visit the house where Birgit Nilsson grew up and lived her first 23 years. However, we could peek into the farm, where you can see both the house and the former stables.

Birgit Nilsson Museum

If you book a guided tour, you can take a half-hour tour of the house.

The farmhouse. Press photo.

Coffee in the stable café

Once upon a time, a young Birgit Nilsson milked cows in this barn. Times have changed since then, but the brick floor of the barn is the same as in Birgit's time and the cows' stalls are still there.

Birgit Nilsson Museum - stallcaféet

The difference is that today the stables have been carefully renovated into a cosy café. A truly delightful environment where both the interior and paintings tell the story of Birgit's life. And no, the café was not empty, but when we were here it was sunny and guests chose to sit out in the courtyard!

Birgit Nilsson Museum - stallcaféet

The café serves sandwiches and homemade cakes. One speciality is the popular Aida cake, which is made according to Birgit's recipe.

Birgit Nilsson Museum - stallcaféet
Birgit Nilsson's Aida cake. Press photo

For those who haven't had enough of Birgit Nilsson

During our visit to the museum, we learnt that there is a lot going on in Birgit Nilsson's name. Here are some tips for those who are particularly interested:

  • Birgit Nilsson Days is a regular event in August each year. During these days, there are Master Classes for selected participants and a series of open concerts.
  • The Birgit Nilsson Prize is the largest classical music award in the world. It is awarded approximately every three years to a singer, musician or institution that has made significant contributions to classical music.
  • Birgit Nilsson Scholarship is given to promising young singers who work in the spirit of Birgit Nilsson. 
  • The Birgit Nilsson Society welcomes you as a member to an organisation that wants to preserve the memory of La Nilsson.
  • Concerts and lectures are organised from time to time by the museum.
  • Museum shops offers books, music, films and souvenirs.
  • Walking in the footsteps of Birgit Nilsson is a walking trail that starts and ends at the singer's childhood home. Along the walk, which is marked with a G-claw, stories from her life are told.
Electra. Press photo.
Tristan and Isolde. Press photo.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

From the Birgit Nilsson Museum it is not far to Båstad, with restaurants and fine sandy beaches. In the neighbourhood you can also visit Norrviken's gardens, which are stunningly beautiful.. Additional tips are to make a excursion to Hovs Hallar or Torekov and Hallands Väderö.. We can also recommend a visit to pleasant Ängelholm with our 9 best tips.

Norrvikens trädgårdar
At Norrviken Gardens
Bästa i Skåne
All our top tips for holidays in Skåne

Do you like opera? How do you remember Birgit Nilsson? Have you visited the Birgit Nilsson Museum, or would you like to?

Facts about the Birgit Nilsson Museum

  • Landscape: Skåne
  • County: Skåne County
  • Municipality: Båstad
  • Address: Birgit Nilssons väg 27, Båstad
  • Read more: You can find more information on the official website.

Services and practical information

  • Opening hours: In 2021, the museum is open Tues-Sun from 26 June to 5 September. For current opening hours see the official website.
  • Prices: Exhibition with audio guide 120 SEK for adults (2021). Guided tour of the farmhouse 80 SEK (2021). Children under 16 have free admission.
  • Food service: The stable café is open at the same times as the museum.
  • Shop: There is a small museum shop in the entrance with books, music, films, souvenirs and gift vouchers.
  • Rules: Photography is allowed outdoors and in the stable café. Smoking is only allowed in the signposted area by the car park.
  • Accessibility: The living room has limited accessibility and cannot be visited with a wheelchair or walker. Other parts of the museum are accessible.

Find the Birgit Nilsson Museum

  • Car: The museum is located along road 115, which runs between Båstad and Torekov.

You might also like:

Kulturen i LundCulture in Lund - an open-air museum in the city centre Göra i ÄngelholmThings to do in Ängelholm - our 9 best tips Fredriksdal i HelsingborgFredriksdal in Helsingborg - museums and gardens Disgusting Food Museum i MalmöDisgusting Food Museum in Malmö - a "disgusting" visit Tändsticksmuseet i JönköpingThe Matchstick Museum in Jönköping - an engaging story Konstverket NimisArtwork Nimis - directions and interesting facts

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28 August 2021 6:00
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  1. Ama de casa says:

    A very fascinating life story.

    Opera is not my thing at all, but I have actually seen Birgit Nilsson perform once. Not on some big stage in some world city, but on a small outdoor stage in Svandammen (an outdoor park) in Skellefteå - of all places 😀.

    28 August 2021 - 9:07

    Reply

  2. Monica says:

    I had a colleague who in addition to his medical vocation at Ackis found his relaxation with opera, he loved it. By the way, almost all the doctors I knew were active in the OD. In addition to medical knowledge, they had great singing voices. He at least attracted me and a few others to the Royal Opera House and to Birgit's last performance there in 1975 in "Die Frau ohne schatten", the last rehearsed role, then of course she continued to sing. In 2003 she had a summer programme called "Bethögen till Beethoven", many people know how funny she was, including this doctor. I picked out a fancy bladder and we went off and had a great evening. Young and newly educated, but I think he thought I fit in, well behaved and could lead me, haha, I remember that some people were jealous, but he was as careful as with opera experiences with the company, yes he was/is noble. And I would not have thought of this without your nice post.

    29 August 2021 - 16:22

    Reply

  3. Comment by post author

    Helena says:

    What an experience! How wonderful that we made you think back on this great memory 🙂 have a great time Monica!

    31 August 2021 - 9:01

    Reply

2 Pingbacks

  1. Excursions on the Bjäre Peninsula - 8 wonderful experiences | FREEDOMtravel
  2. Norrvikens trädgårdar - fantastic park outside Båstad | FREEDOMtravel

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