Nicolai Gedda

Born Harry Gustaf Nikolai Gädda in Stockholm on 11th July 1925, Gedda began his working life in banking before making his professional debut at the Royal Swedish Opera in 1952; after attracting the attention of Herbert von Karajan, engagements at La Scala and the Paris Opera soon followed, and his 1957 debut at the Metropolitan Opera marked the beginning of a relationship which would continue for several decades.

A hugely versatile singer, Gedda’s easy upper register and sweetness of tone won him particular success in high-lying bel canto roles such as Arnaud in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell and Arturo in I Puritani, and he also excelled in heavier French repertoire such as the title-roles in Massenet’s Werther, Offenbach Les contes d’Hoffmann and Gounod’s Faust.

Gedda continued to sing small roles well into his seventies, making his final studio recording in 2003; he died on 8th January 2017 aged 91.

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