Gertrud Pålson-Wettergren

Who was Gertrud Pålson-Wettergren?

Gertrud Pålson-Wettergren was a Swedish mezzosoprano.

She was hired at Royal Swedish Opera between 1922 and 1948. On December 20, 1935, she made her debut at the Metropolitan as Amneris in Aida opposite Elisabeth Rethberg, Giovanni Martinelli, John Charles Thomas and Ezio Pinza. Her roles there included Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde, Venus in Tannhäuser, Carmen which she sang in Swedish replacing Rosa Ponselle in a performance, and opened the 1936/37 season with Samson et Dalila. Her last performance there was on January 29, 1938, making a total of 29 performances.

Although she sang at Covent Garden in 1936 and 1939 in Aida and Il trovatore, the war prevented a further international career. She returned to London in 1947, singing in Die Walküre at the BBC under Sir Thomas Beecham.