(Credits: © Örjan Jakobsson / Bayerische Staatsoper official website)

Mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg and baritone John Lundgren have been appointed Royal Court Singers by His Majesty King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf.

Hallenberg and Lundgren join a long list of famed opera singers who carry this designation, including Nina Stemme, Peter Mattei, Anna Larsson, Miah Persson, Michael Weinius, Malin Byström, Katarina Karnéus, and Daniel Johansson, among others.

Hallenberg recently appeared in the title role in Händel’s “Agrippina” at the Drottningholms slottsteater. The mezzo-soprano is slated to perform in Vivaldi’s “Juditha Triumphans” at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in November 2021, before taking on the role of Dejanira in Händel’s “Hercules” at the Staatstheater Karlsruhe in February and March 2022.

Lundgren has recently performed the role of Wotan in Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” and the title role in “Der fliegende Holländer” at the Bayerische Staatsoper. The baritone is scheduled to appear in the role of Von Telramund in “Lohengrin” at the Staatsoper Hamburg in January 2022, before taking on the role of Jochanaan in Strauss’ “Salome” at the Wiener Staatsoper in March 2022.