Opera Scotland

Ragnar Ulfung Suggest updates

Born Oslo, 28 February 1927.

Norwegian tenor.

After a concert debut in Oslo he studied in Italy for four years.  When he returned he made his operatic debut in The Consul (Menotti).  From 1955-58 he was based in Gothenburg, and made his first appearance at the Royal Opera Stockholm in 1958 as Canio.  He continued to work there regularly throughout his career.

His repertory was wide ranging, and included Verdi (Duke of Mantua,  Gustavus,  Don Carlos);  Mascagni (Turiddu);   Tchaikovsky (Lensky),   Strauss (Herod,  Aegisth) and  Stravinsky (Tom Rakewell).   His debut at the New York Met was with the Hamburg State Opera in 1967 and he sang in many of the great houses around the world.

His British debut was at the 1959 Edinburgh Festival, with the Stockholm Opera in Un ballo in maschera and Blomdahl's Aniara.   His second appearance in Edinburgh came in 1974, again with the Stockholm company, in Elektra.

His first visit to Covent Garden in 1960 was also with the Stockholm Opera as Gustavus.   He worked with the Covent Garden company in 1963 in Don Carlos.  Subsequent appearances included Herod,  Aegisth and Mime.   In 1972 he created the title-role in Taverner (Maxwell Davies).