Ms. Sunnegardh's career was delayed despite an impeccable musical pedigree. Both parents were prominent voice teachers in Sweden, and a half-brother is a tenor. Her father, Arne, was the last teacher of Birgit Nilsson, the legendary Swedish soprano, and a touring accompanist for the tenor Jussi Bjoerling, another great. She had superb training in Stockholm, attending a choir school and studying modern dance. Stepping Onstage as a Waitress, She May Exit the Met as a Star Daniel J. Waking / NYTimes / 4-1-06 Until 18 months ago, Erika Sunnegardh, a soprano, had never sung an opera role on stage. Erika Sunnegardh makes an unexpected Metropolitan Opera debut Saturday, replacing Karita Mattila and getting the prized broadcast matinee. For nearly 20 years she toiled as a waitress, caterer and tour guide in New York. Sure, there was singing: a few recitals and plenty of funerals as a church cantor in the Bronx. Often the choice boiled down to rent or voice lessons. But in a story that will give a jolt of hope to every would-be performer with a serving tray, Ms. Sunnegardh, 40, has been assigned to appear today at the Metropolitan Opera in the title role of Beethoven's "Fidelio" as a last-minute substitute for an ailing Karita Mattila. What's more, the performance is one of the house's Saturday radio broadcasts, heard by 10 million people around the world. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/01/nyregion/01erika.html?hp&ex=1143954000&en=db12b42cdfb1a762&ei=5094&partner=homepage Janos Gereben/SF www.sfcv.org [log in to unmask]