Swedish tenor Niklas Björling Rygert is a member of the Royal Swedish Opera’s permanent ensemble and has sung a large number of roles during his long career at the Opera. In autumn 2026, he sings Spoletta in all performances of Puccini’s Tosca and Blind in Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus.
Niklas Björling Rygert began his musical training at Adolf Fredrik’s Music School and studied at NBV Teaterverkstad, Operastudio 67 and the University College of Opera in Stockholm. As a child, he was already frequently engaged as an actor, appearing in productions including Pippi Longstocking and Snow White at Folkan in Stockholm, as well as in film, radio and television.
At the Royal Swedish Opera, Björling Rygert has appeared in a wide range of productions. Among his most notable roles are Mime in both Das Rheingold and Siegfried, which he sang at the Opera in the 2005/06 season. These performances led to international engagements, and in 2008 and 2009 he sang Mime in both operas at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia under Zubin Mehta.
His collaboration with Mehta has continued on several occasions. In 2011, Björling Rygert sang Klaus Narr in Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Tel Aviv, a concert that was also released on recording. He returned in 2013 for concert performances of Falstaff and Otello with the same orchestra and conductor.
Internationally, Niklas Björling Rygert has also appeared at venues including Teatro Real in Madrid, Oper Frankfurt, Semperoper Dresden, Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. In Sweden, in addition to the Royal Swedish Opera, he has appeared at Folkoperan, Confidencen, Drottningholm Palace Theatre and Malmö Opera.
In recent seasons, Björling Rygert has appeared in productions including Carmen, Tosca, Wozzeck, Sweeney Todd and La bohème at the Royal Swedish Opera. During the 2025/26 season, he sang in Rusalka, The Magic Flute and Turandot.
Niklas Björling Rygert has received several scholarships and awards, including scholarships from the Friends of the Royal Swedish Opera, the Swedish Order of Freemasons, the Gunn Wållgren Foundation and the Uno Stjernqvist Foundation.
