Swedish opera star Nilsson dies

Birgit Nilsson's voice mesmerised audiences

Swedish opera star Birgit Nilsson, known as one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos, has died aged 87.

Nilsson made her stage debut in 1946 at the Stockholm Royal Opera and continued to perform around the world until her retirement in the 1980s.

She died on 25 December, it announced on Wednesday, as her funeral was held in a church in her home town of Vastra Karup, southern Sweden.

The church's vicar said he did not know the cause of her death.

"It's a great pity. She was such a phenomenal artist," Placido Domingo said.

"I didn't even know she was sick."

One of her most famous roles was as Isolde in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde which she sang on her debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1959.