Carolina Östberg
Encyclopedia
Carolina Östberg was a Swedish opera singer and singing teacher. She was one of the most popular stars of her time in Sweden, and was internationally known.
Östberg, the daughter of a barber-surgeon, displayed a natural musical talent at an early age. She was a student at Dramatens elevskola
from 1869 to 1873 and a student of Signe Hebbe
. She was active as a concert singer before she debuted at Stora Teatern at the 1873–74 season with Louise Pyk
. Both Östbeg and Pyk made a huge success. She was given a contract after her part as Carlo Broschi in "Hälften var" (Half each), a part which was to be her most popular.
When she retired after her marriage in 1877, it was seen as a great loss, as she had managed to become one of her country's most noted singers. When she was unexpectedly launched in the lead role of "Boccaccio" in Nya Teatern
in 1879, "The applause never seemed to stop", and the press demanded that she be given a position at the Royal Swedish Opera
. She performed in Copenhagen
(1880), Germany (1882-83), Norway (1885), and performed at Nya Teatern in Stockholm under the name Mrs Östberg.
In 1886, Östberg was employed at the Royal Swedish Opera, which was seen as the triumph of the audience over the operatic management; "The Public had had its will" over the opera, after having demanded that she be employed there for years. She stayed there for her remaining career, except for a tour in USA in 1892–94. She was compared to Louise Michaeli
. She was given Litteris et Artibus
in 1891, and again, with brilliant
s, in 1900, and was in 1897 inducted into the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
. In 1905, she made nine recordings on gramophone
. She retired in 1906 and was later active as a singing teacher.
Among her parts were the title role of La Gioconda
, Sieglinde in Die Walküre
, Alice in Falstaff
, Marguerite de Valois in Les Huguenots
and the title role in Aida
.
Östberg, the daughter of a barber-surgeon, displayed a natural musical talent at an early age. She was a student at Dramatens elevskola
Dramatens elevskola
Dramatens elevskola, i.e. Kungliga Dramatiska Teaterns Elevskola, or in Eng: The Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school, was the acting school of Sweden's national stage, The Royal Dramatic Theatre, and for many years seen as the foremost theatre school and drama education for Swedish stage actors...
from 1869 to 1873 and a student of Signe Hebbe
Signe Hebbe
Signe Amanda Georgina Hebbe , was a Swedish singer , actress, and theatre pedagogue.Signe Hebbe was born in Värnamo to the journalist Vendela Hebbe. In 1848, at the age of eleven, she studied music at the Lindblad pianoschool, at the school of the Royal Swedish Opera and for Karolina Bock. In...
. She was active as a concert singer before she debuted at Stora Teatern at the 1873–74 season with Louise Pyk
Louise Pyk
Louise Pyk , was a Swedish opera singer.Daughter of sea captain Nils Pyk. She studied music in Helsingborg, on the Royal College of Music, Stockholm in Stockholm and as a student of Fritz Arlberg before she debuted at the Royal Swedish Opera in 1874...
. Both Östbeg and Pyk made a huge success. She was given a contract after her part as Carlo Broschi in "Hälften var" (Half each), a part which was to be her most popular.
When she retired after her marriage in 1877, it was seen as a great loss, as she had managed to become one of her country's most noted singers. When she was unexpectedly launched in the lead role of "Boccaccio" in Nya Teatern
Swedish Theatre (Stockholm)
The Swedish Theatre in Stockholm was, at the beginning of the 20th century, Sweden's largest dramatic theatre. During its years in use, from 1875 to 1925, it was often considered as Sweden's foremost national theatre...
in 1879, "The applause never seemed to stop", and the press demanded that she be given a position at the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
. She performed in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
(1880), Germany (1882-83), Norway (1885), and performed at Nya Teatern in Stockholm under the name Mrs Östberg.
In 1886, Östberg was employed at the Royal Swedish Opera, which was seen as the triumph of the audience over the operatic management; "The Public had had its will" over the opera, after having demanded that she be employed there for years. She stayed there for her remaining career, except for a tour in USA in 1892–94. She was compared to Louise Michaeli
Louise Michaëli
Louise Charlotte Helene Michaëli, née Michal, , was a Swedish opera singer.Michaëli debuted at the Royal Swedish Opera in 1849. She studied under Julius Günther at the Opera in Stockholm and under Garcia in London. In 1852-1855 she was employed at the Opera in Stockholm. She toured Scandinavia,...
. She was given Litteris et Artibus
Litteris et Artibus
Litteris et Artibus is a Swedish royal medal established in 1853 by Charles XV of Sweden, who was then crown prince. It is awarded to people who have made important contributions to culture, especially music, dramatic art and literature....
in 1891, and again, with brilliant
Brilliant (diamond cut)
A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
s, in 1900, and was in 1897 inducted into the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
. In 1905, she made nine recordings on gramophone
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. She retired in 1906 and was later active as a singing teacher.
Among her parts were the title role of La Gioconda
La Gioconda (opera)
La Gioconda is an opera in four acts by Amilcare Ponchielli set to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Angelo, tyran de Padoue, a play in prose by Victor Hugo, dating from 1835...
, Sieglinde in Die Walküre
Die Walküre
Die Walküre , WWV 86B, is the second of the four operas that form the cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen , by Richard Wagner...
, Alice in Falstaff
Falstaff (opera)
Falstaff is an operatic commedia lirica in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeare's plays The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry IV. It was Verdi's last opera, written in the composer's ninth decade, and only the second of his 26 operas to be a comedy...
, Marguerite de Valois in Les Huguenots
Les Huguenots
Les Huguenots is a French opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer, one of the most popular and spectacular examples of the style of grand opera. The opera is in five acts and premiered in Paris in 1836. The libretto was written by Eugène Scribe and Émile Deschamps....
and the title role in Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
.