Hovsångare
Hovsångare (Hovsångerska for women), literally Court Singer, is a title awarded by the Swedish monarch to a singer (usually an opera singer) who, by their vocal art, has contributed to the international standing of Swedish singing. The formal title was introduced by King Gustav III of Sweden in 1773, with the first recipients being Elisabeth Olin and Carl Stenborg. The position as such, however, dates back to the 17th-century, when Anne Chabanceau de La Barre and Joseph Chabanceau de La Barre were singers at the court of Queen Christina of Sweden.
Named
21st century
2013: Elin Rombo
2010: Anna Larsson, Malena Ernman, Miah Persson
2006: Nina Stemme, Hillevi Martinpelto
2004: Karl-Magnus Fredriksson, Peter Mattei
2003: Loa Falkman
2002: Helena Döse
2000: Katarina Dalayman, Ingrid Tobiasson
20th century
1999: Lena Nordin
1995: Anne Sofie von Otter, Birgitta Svendén
1994: Siv Wennberg
1992: Jerker Arvidson, Anita Soldh
1990: MariAnne Häggander, Björn Asker
1988: Britt Marie Aruhn, Elisabeth Erikson, Gösta Winbergh