The Birgit Nilsson Stiftelse is today marking what would have been the singer's 103rd birthday by launching a new website devoted to exploring her life and legacy. Rich in biographical accounts and atmospheric photographs, the website also serves as a resource for the museum devoted to the singer, for the Birgit Nilsson Prize, and for the Birgit Nilsson Stipendium - the scholarship established to support superb young artists of today.

And in a further birthday announcement today, it was revealed that this year's Stipendium recipient is 27-year-old Johanna Wallroth. The Swedish soprano will receive 200.000 SEK (equivalent to $24.000), and will perform on August 13 in recital as a part of the celebrations for this year’s Birgit Nilsson Days festival, which runs from August 9-14.

'Receiving the Birgit Nilsson Scholarship is absolutely fantastic and to be associated with Birgit Nilsson’s name is an enormous honour,' said Wallroth. 'I interpret it as an acknowledgment and confirmation that I am on the right track with my vocal and musical development. The Stipendium also provides a financial security which will enable me to continue my focus and develop my career.'

The Birgit Nilsson Stipendium was created in 1969 in memory of Birgit's first teacher, Ragnar Blennow, with the founding capital being set aside from the revenue of a performance of Tosca at the Malmö City Theatre in which Nilsson sang the title role. Previous recipients have included Anna Larsson and Nina Stemme.

And finally today, it was also announced that next month will see the re-opening of the Birgit Nilsson Museum, located at the farm on the Bjäre Peninsula in South Sweden where the singer lived with her parents until she was 23 years old. From June 26 until September 5, visitors can receive 'a glimpse into the simple upbringing in which Sweden’s most famous opera singer was born into. It was a life without electricity or running water and where the young Birgit helped with all the chores on the farm. She thinned out beets, planted and pulled up potatoes, harvested hay and milked the cows.'

To explore the website, and read more about the Stipendium and Museum, visit: birgitnilsson.com