Malena Ernman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malena Ernman
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Ernman in 2012
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Sara Magdalena Ernman
4 November 1970 Uppsala, Sweden
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| Occupation | Singer |
| Spouse(s) | Svante Thunberg |
| Children | 2, including Greta Thunberg |
| Relatives | Olof Thunberg (father-in-law) |
| Musical career | |
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| Years active | 1998–present |
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Malena Ernman (born 4 November 1970) is a famous Swedish singer. She is known for her powerful voice, called a mezzo-soprano. This means she sings in a middle vocal range, between a soprano and a contralto.
Malena Ernman sings many different kinds of music. She performs in operas, which are plays where most of the words are sung. She also sings chansons (French songs), jazz, and cabaret music. She has even been in musicals! In 2009, Malena represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest. She sang the song "La Voix" and finished in 21st place. She is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
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Malena Ernman's Life and Career
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Early Life and Education
Malena Ernman was born in Uppsala, Sweden. She grew up in a town called Sandviken. She studied music at several special schools. These included the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Music Conservatory in Orléans, France. She also trained at the school of the Royal Swedish Opera.
Malena is married to an actor named Svante Thunberg. They have two daughters together. Their older daughter is the famous climate activist Greta Thunberg. Their younger daughter, Beata Ernman, is also a singer.
Her Opera Performances
Malena Ernman has performed in many operas around the world. She often sings "trouser roles." This means she plays a male character, even though she is a woman.
Here are some of the famous operas she has been in:
- In 1998, she played Rosina in The Barber of Seville in Stockholm. People said her singing was very impressive.
- In 2000, she sang Nerone in Handel's Agrippina in Brussels.
- She performed at the Glyndebourne Festival in England. She was Nancy in Albert Herring in 2002. The next year, she was Prince Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus.
- She sang in Don Giovanni in Brussels and Hercules in France.
- In 2006, she made her first appearance at the Salzburg Festival in Austria. She sang Annio in La clemenza di Tito.
- She has also performed in Carmen, a very famous opera, with the Royal Opera Stockholm.
Malena has worked with many famous conductors. These include William Christie and Daniel Barenboim.
Concerts and Special Performances
Besides operas, Malena Ernman also gives many concerts. She has sung with famous orchestras. For example, she performed with the Stockholm Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She also sang at the Verbier Festival.
In 2018, Malena starred in a Swedish musical. It was called Så som i himmelen (As It Is in Heaven). This musical was based on a popular film.
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
In 2009, Malena Ernman became very well known. She entered Melodifestivalen 2009, which is Sweden's competition to choose its Eurovision song. She sang "La voix", a song she helped write.
On March 14, 2009, Malena won the final of Melodifestivalen. This meant she would represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. Her song "La voix" was special because it had a lot of French lyrics. Malena speaks French very well.
She made it to the Eurovision final on May 16. She finished in 21st place. Her dress for the performance was very expensive and designed by Camilla Thulin.
Personal Life
Malena Ernman is married to Svante Thunberg. They have two daughters. Their older daughter, Greta Thunberg, became famous worldwide. She started the School Strike for Climate to raise awareness about climate change.
When Greta was born, Malena's singing career was growing. So, Svante stayed home to take care of their children.
In 2014, when Greta was 11, she went through a difficult time. She stopped eating and talking for several months. She was later diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. This was a very hard period for Malena and her family. Malena even had to cancel some performances because of it. After they got through this tough time, Malena shared her story. She wanted to help other families who might be in a similar situation.
Malena Ernman also cares a lot about the environment. She supports the Paris Agreement, which is an international agreement on climate change. In 2017, she wrote an article about it. She also wrote a book with her husband called Scenes from the Heart. This book is about her family, the environment, and living in a way that helps the planet. It was published in 2018.
Awards and Recognitions
Malena Ernman has received several awards for her work:
- 2010: She was named Hovsångerska. This is a special title given by the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, to important singers. It means "royal court singer."
- 2017: She was named "Environmental Hero of the Year" by WWF-Sweden. This award recognized her efforts to protect the environment.
Music Albums and Singles
Malena Ernman has released many music albums and singles.
Albums
- 2000: Naïve
- 2001: Cabaret Songs
- 2003: Songs in Season
- 2003: My Love – This album features opera songs and other pieces with guitar.
- 2009: La Voix du Nord – This album includes her Eurovision song "La voix."
- 2010: Santa Lucia – En klassisk jul (a Christmas album)
- 2011: Opera di Fiori
- 2013: I decembertid
- 2014: SDS
- 2015: Advent
- 2016: Sverige
Singles
- 2009: "La voix" – Her song for the Eurovision Song Contest.
- 2010: "Min plats på jorden"
DVDs
You can also watch Malena Ernman perform on DVD:
- Die Fledermaus (2003) – She plays Prince Orlovsky in this opera.
- Hercules (2004) – She performs as Lichas.
- Julie (2005) – She sings the main role.
- Dido and Aeneas (2008) – She plays Dido.
- Rodelinda (2011) – She performs as Eduige.
- Don Giovanni (2013) – She sings the role of Donna Elvira.
In Spanish: Malena Ernman para niños
