Margareta Hallin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margareta Hallin
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|---|---|
Hallin as Gilda in Rigoletto at the
Malmö City Theatre in 1968 |
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| Born |
Gunhild Margareta Hallin Ekerot
20 February 1931 Karlskoga, Sweden
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| Died | 9 February 2020 (aged 88) Vantör, Stockholm, Sweden
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| Occupation | Opera singer, composer and actress |
| Years active | 1955–2020 |
| Spouse(s) | Inge Boström (1951-1956) Bengt Ekerot |
Margareta Hallin (born February 20, 1931, died February 9, 2020) was a famous Swedish artist. She was an amazing opera singer. She also wrote music and was an actress.
Contents
Early Life and First Performance
Margareta Hallin was born in Karlskoga, Sweden. This was on February 20, 1931. She started her journey in music at the University College of Opera. In 1955, she had her first big performance. She played the role of Rosina. This was in the opera Barberaren i Sevilla. The opera was written by Rossini.
A Career in Opera
In 1956, Margareta Hallin joined the Royal Swedish Opera. She became a full-time singer there. She sang many important roles. These included Zerbinetta in Ariadne på Naxos. She also played the main role in Lucia di Lammermoor. Other roles were Sophie in Rosenkavaljeren and Leonora in Trubaduren. She also sang Amelia in Maskeradbalen. She was the main character in Aida. And she played Gilda in Rigoletto.
Her voice was known as a "coloratura soprano". This means she could sing very high notes. She could also sing them with great speed and skill. Many people thought she could have been famous worldwide. But she chose to stay and perform in Sweden.
In 1966, she received a special honor. She was named Hovsångerska. This means she was a Royal Court singer. This is a very respected title in Sweden. She also won the Jussi Björling Scholarship in 1970. Her last performance at the Royal Swedish Opera was in Médée.
Margareta Hallin also performed in other famous places. She sang in Glyndebourne and Florence. She also performed in Vienna, Hamburg, and Moscow. She toured in the Soviet Union.
Becoming a Composer
In the mid-1980s, Margareta Hallin started writing music. A composer named Eberhard Eyser encouraged her. In 1986, she showed her first musical works. She had set poems to music. These poems were by famous Swedish writers. She performed these at the Drottningholm Palace Church.
In 1990, she became a member of the Swedish Society of Composers. This was a big achievement for her. In 2001, she received the honorary title of Professors namn. This means "Professor's name". It is a special recognition for her artistic work. She also received the Gunn Wållgren Award in 2006.
She wrote music for several plays by August Strindberg. He was a very famous Swedish writer. In 1990, she created an opera based on Fröken Julie (Miss Julie). This opera was performed in 1990 and again in 1994. She also composed music for Strindberg's Den Starkare (The Stronger One). This was performed in Stockholm in 1991. Another work was for Ett drömspel (A Dream Play) in 1992.
In 2012, she presented a new program. It was based on letters from Strindberg. These letters were to Harriet Bosse. Hallin both read and sang parts of the program. At one performance, her own paintings were also shown. One painting was a portrait of Strindberg.
Personal Life
Margareta Hallin was married two times. Her first husband was Inge Boström. They were married from 1951 to 1956. They had a daughter, born in 1952. Her second husband was Bengt Ekerot. Their son was born in 1966.
Margareta Hallin passed away on February 9, 2020. She was 88 years old.
Awards and Special Titles
- 1966 – Hovsångerska (Swedish Court singer)
- 1969 – Kvällspostens Thaliapris
- 1970 – Jussi Björlingstipendiet
- 1972 – Member No. 769 at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
- 1976 – Litteris et Artibus
- 1981 – Svenska grammofonpriset ("Swedish gramophone prize") for Gullebarn
- 2004 – Hugo Alfvénpriset
- 2006 – Gunn Wållgren Award
Roles in Plays
Margareta Hallin also acted in plays.
- 1997 – Shylock, The Merchant of Venice, Säffleoperan
- 2007 – Mumien, Överstens hustru in Strindberg's The Ghost Sonata, Strindbergs Intima Teater
- 2011 – Sjuksköterskan in Strindberg's Taklagsöl ("Topping out Ceremony"), Strindbergs Intima Teater
Music Recordings
Margareta Hallin made several recordings of her singing.
- "Six portraits of women from the opera world", with Norrköpings symfoniorkester, EMI HMV 4E 061-34616.
- Great Swedish Singers. Bluebell ABCD 060.
- Svenska hovsångerskor ("Swedish choir of court singers"). EMI CMCD 6350.
- Lieder. Songs by Strauss, Mahler, Mozart. Margareta Hallin with Rolf Lindblom, piano. Proprius PRCD 9151.
- Rigoletto as Gilda in Verdi's opera. Live recording. BIS CD-296.
- Tranfjädrarna ("The Twilight Crane") as Tsu in Sven-Erik Bäck's opera. With Norrköpings symfoniorkester. Swedish Society Disciofil. SLT 33183.
