Liva Järnefelt
Olivia (Liva) Järnefelt née Edström (1876–1971) was a Swedish mezzo-soprano opera singer. In 1897, after appearing at the Royal Swedish Opera as the Third Child Spirit in "The Magic Flute" and making her actual début as Pantalis in Boito's "Mefistofele", she remained with the company until 1926. She performed major mezzo roles in several Wagnerian operas as well as in a variety of Italian works. On the occasion of her 25th anniversary with the Royal Opera, she was enthusiastically acclaimed for her performance in the title role of "Carmen". Appreciated by both her audiences and her  critics for her clear, full-bodied voice and her outstanding stagecraft, she was awarded the Litteris et Artibus in 1920. Early life, family and education. Born on 18 March 1878 in Vänersborg, Olivia Edström was the daughter of Chancellor Johan Edström and his wife Maria née Nordqvist. Her younger sister, (1884–1940), was also an opera singer. In 1910, she married the Finnish conductor and composer Armas Järnefelt. From 1894 to 1897, she studied voice at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music under Julius Günther. She later studied further under in Stockholm (1904–94) and in Vienna. She also studied drama under  Signe Hebbe. Career. Liva Edström first appeared on stage at the Royal Opera in 1897 as the Third Child Spirit in "The Magic Flute". That year she made her official début as Pantalis in "Mefistofele" and also appeared as Frédéric in Ambroise Thomas's "Mignon". In 1898, she was engaged by the company and performed there until 1926. She gained popularity in 1901, singing the title role in "Carmen". She subsequently sang in several Wagnerian operas: Venus in "Tannhäuser", Ortrud in "Lohengrin", Magdalena in "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg", Brangâne in "Tristan und Isolde", Brünnhilde and Fricka in "Der Ring des  Nibelungen" and Kundry in "Parsifal". Roles in Italian operas included Azucena in "Il travatore", Marcellina in "The Barber of Seville", Madalena in "Rigoletto", Hedwige in "William Tell" and Lola in "Cavalleria rusticana". She is remembered in particular for singing the title role in "Samson and Delilah" (premiered in 1903), for Amneris in "Aida", for Olga in "Eugene Onegin", and in particular for her Carmen, which she last performed to celebrate her 25th anniversary with the company. Initially overshadowed by Matilda Jungstedt's Carmen, she increasingly earned the acclaim of her audiences and critics. Towards the end of her stage career , Järnefelt often appeared in comic roles such as Annina in "Der Rosenkavalier" or Mistress Quickly in "Falstaff", receiving praise from her critics for making so much of smaller roles. She later became a respected voice and drama teacher in Stockholm. Liva Järnefelt died on 24 June 1971 in Engelbrekt Parish in Stockholm County. Awards. Järnefelt was awarded the Litteris et Artibus medal in 1920 for her contributions to Swedish culture. In 1924 she was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.