Helena Döse was made a Singer of the Swedish Royal Court in 2002. In 2007 she was awarded the „Litteriset Artibus“ medal by the King of Sweden for her outstanding contributions to art and culture. She began her career in Göteborg in 1971, when she took over the role of Aide from Birgit Nilsson in an extra performance that was scheduled especially for her. This was followed by performances at other companies including the Royal Opera in Stockholm, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and San Francisco Opera. Between 1983 and 1994 her roles at Oper Frankfurt included Strauss’ Chrysothemis, Ariadne, Countess (Capriccio) and Marschallin, Desdemona (Otello), Aida, Amelia (Un ballo in maschera), Jenufa, Elsa (Lohengrin), Sieglinde (Der Ring des Nibelungen, directed by Ruth Berghaus and Herbert Wernicke), Tatjana (Eugen Onegin) and Vitellia (La clemenza di Tito). Her most recent role for the company was Adelaide in a new production of Arabella.