# Kim Borg

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**Kim Borg** (August 7, 1919 – April 28, 2000) was a Finnish [bass](/source/Bass_(vocal_range)), teacher and composer. He had a wide-ranging, resonant, warm voice.[1]

## Biography

Kim Borg was born in [Helsinki](/source/Helsinki). He studied voice with [Heikki Teittinen](/source/Heikki_Teittinen) at the [Sibelius Academy](/source/Sibelius_Academy) (1936–1941 and 1945–1947), where he also received training in theory and composition with [Leo Funtek](/source/Leo_Funtek) and [Aarre Merikanto](/source/Aarre_Merikanto), and then pursued vocal studies with [Andrejewa de Skilondz](/source/Andrejewa_de_Skilondz) in Stockholm (1950–1959). He also studied [biochemistry](/source/Biochemistry) at the [Helsinki University of Technology](/source/Helsinki_University_of_Technology), and received a [diploma](/source/Diplomi-insin%C3%B6%C3%B6ri) in 1946.

In 1947 he made his formal concert debut in Helsinki, and in 1951 his formal operatic debut in [Århus](/source/%C3%85rhus) as Colline in *[La bohème](/source/La_boh%C3%A8me)*. In addition to his concert appearances, he sang regularly in opera in Helsinki and [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen) (1952–1970), [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm) (1963–1975), and [Hamburg](/source/Hamburg) (1964–1970). In October 1959 he made his [Metropolitan Opera](/source/Metropolitan_Opera) debut in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) as Count Almaviva, remaining on its roster until 1962. In 1961 he appeared as [Boris Godunov](/source/Boris_Godunov_(opera)) in Moscow.

He also had success in such roles as [Osmin](/source/Die_Entf%C3%BChrung_aus_dem_Serail), [Don Giovanni](/source/Don_Giovanni), [King Marke](/source/Tristan_und_Isolde), [Hans Sachs](/source/Die_Meistersinger_von_N%C3%BCrnberg), [King Phillip II](/source/Don_Carlos), [Pimen](/source/Boris_Godunov_(opera)), [Gremin](/source/The_Queen_of_Spades_(opera)), [Don Basilio](/source/The_Barber_of_Seville) and [Arkel](/source/Pell%C3%A9as_et_M%C3%A9lisande_(opera)).

Recordings of him are available as Abner in *[Saul og David](/source/Saul_og_David)* by [Carl Nielsen](/source/Carl_Nielsen), Shigolch in *[Lulu](/source/Lulu_(opera))*, [Shchelkalov](/source/Vasily_and_Andrey_Shchelkalov) in *Boris Godunov*, the Messenger in Orff's "Antigonae", and both Sarastro, the Sprecher and the Second Armed Man in *[The Magic Flute](/source/The_Magic_Flute)*; also doing bass solos in [Mozart](/source/Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart)'s *[Requiem](/source/Requiem_(Mozart))*, [Beethoven](/source/Ludwig_van_Beethoven)'s *[Missa Solemnis](/source/Missa_Solemnis_(Beethoven))*, [Verdi](/source/Giuseppe_Verdi)'s *[Requiem](/source/Requiem_(Verdi))*, [Elgar](/source/Edward_Elgar)'s *[The Dream of Gerontius](/source/The_Dream_of_Gerontius)*, Rossini's *[Stabat Mater](/source/Stabat_Mater_(Rossini))*, Dvořák's *[Stabat Mater](/source/Stabat_Mater_(Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k))*, and [Haydn](/source/Joseph_Haydn)'s *[The Creation](/source/The_Creation_(Haydn))*. He also left a fine recording of [Mussorsky](/source/Modest_Mussorgsky)'s *[Songs and Dances of Death](/source/Songs_and_Dances_of_Death)*.

In 1962 he received the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.[2]

He retired from the stage in 1980. From 1972 to 1989 he was a professor at the [Royal Danish Conservatory of Music](/source/Royal_Danish_Conservatory_of_Music) in Copenhagen. He published several books, wrote orchestral compositions (Trombone Concerto, two symphonies), chamber music, a *[Stabat Mater](/source/Stabat_Mater)*, and songs. He also prepared orchestrations to compositions of Mussorgsky and [Hugo Wolf](/source/Hugo_Wolf).

He died in [Humlebæk](/source/Humleb%C3%A6k), Denmark in April 2000, aged 80. He is buried in the [Hietaniemi Cemetery](/source/Hietaniemi_Cemetery) in Helsinki.[3]

## Discography

- Kim Borg, Bass. DGG LPE 17093 (1957).
- Kim Borg: The Golden Years 1952–1956. Fuga 9220 (2008).
- Kim Borg: The Opera Album. Fuga 9270 (2010).
- Kim Borg: Immortal Recordings 1952–1954. Finlandia Classics FINCLA 4 (2013).
- Hartaita lauluja. Finlandia Classics FINCLA 5 (2013).

## Notes

1. *[Gramophone](/source/Gramophone_(magazine))* obituary (July 2000)

1. ["Suomen Leijonan Pro Finlandia -mitalin saajat 1945-2019"](http://www.ritarikunnat.fi/index.php/fi/ritarikunnat/rekisterit/173-suomen-leijonan-pro-finlandia-mitalin-saajat-1945-2015). *www.ritarikunnat.fi*

1. ["Hietaniemen hautausmaa – merkittäviä vainajia"](https://www.helsinginseurakunnat.fi/material/attachments/hautausmaat/hietaniemi/w8GZkM0y7/Hietaniemen_merkittavia_vainajia.pdf). Helsingin seurakuntayhtymä. Retrieved 27 August 2016.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kim Borg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Borg) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Borg?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.