There was sad news today, when it was announced that Birgit Nilsson the Swedish farmer's daughter who became renowned in the world's great opera houses for her dazzling voice and among colleagues for her playful sense of humour, has died at age 87. She apparently died on Christmas day, but the family only released the news today so that she could be buried in a private ceremony.

She was a soprano (no, not a Soprano, but a singer) and the tributes and anecdotes are pouring in from all over the world. One that I liked and which illustrates her reputation for wicked repartee came after a disagreement with the Australian soprano Joan Sutherland. Ms. Nilsson was asked if she thought Ms. Sutherland’s famous bouffant hairdo was real. She answered: “I don’t know. I haven’t pulled it yet.”

I am a lover of opera and there was really nobody who could touch her. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to hear her sing live, but her sound on recordings is nothing short of extraordinary. Her versions of Isolde or Brünnhilde piercing through with a clear beauty no matter how powerful the orchestra.

For some great pictures, see the slide show from the New York Times tribute, where there are also some great audio clips.

What a voice!