Charlotta Djurström
Encyclopedia
Hedvig Charlotta Djurström, née Hoffman, (Kalmar 14 May 1807 – Norrköping 19 May 1877), was a Swedish actor. She was the most well known female country-side actors in Sweden
in the first half of the 19th century, called "The Jeanne d'Arc of the Country-side" after her most famous part.
. Charlotta Hoffman debuted in 1827 in the Stålberg company, which was one of the best-known of the companies touring the country-side. This company was soon to be known as the Djurström company. Hoffman was a great beauty with a good singing-voice and soon developed into the prima donna of the troupe. She married Erik Djurström
, actor and the director of the company.
At the beginning used in soubrette
- and boys breeches parts, she moved on to girl's- and heroine parts, in which she was to become most known. In 1832, she became the first Jeanne d'Arc in Orleanska Jungfrun ("The Maid of Lorriane") by Schiller on a Swedish stage, a part in which she was called "burningly tragic" and so famous that people came from the most isolated parts and villages to see her in the small towns she performed, after which she earned her nickname "The Jeanne d'Arc of the country-side". As a person, however, she was described by her colleagues as affected and plotting and very much a diva
. The fame was reserved for the countryside, however; when the company performed in Stockholm
in 1841, it was not given very good critic, and Charlotta Djurstrom was only considered as an averagely good actor within "lighter comedy".
After the death of her husband, Charlotta worked in the troupes of Ellfforss and Hessler and finally at the Ladugårdsland Theatre in Stockholm, where she was still considered as an ornament on the stage until her retirement in 1864. She spent her last years in Norrköping.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in the first half of the 19th century, called "The Jeanne d'Arc of the Country-side" after her most famous part.
Biography
In the early 19th century, only the biggest cities in Sweden had real theatres; small towns and the countryside were visited by numerous travelling theatre-troupes, which performed in various localities in both Sweden and FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Charlotta Hoffman debuted in 1827 in the Stålberg company, which was one of the best-known of the companies touring the country-side. This company was soon to be known as the Djurström company. Hoffman was a great beauty with a good singing-voice and soon developed into the prima donna of the troupe. She married Erik Djurström
Erik Djurström
Erik Wilhelm Djurström, née Strandberg, , was a Swedish actor and director of a travelling theatre, one of the best known in the first half of 19th century in Sweden.- Biography :...
, actor and the director of the company.
At the beginning used in soubrette
Soubrette
A soubrette is a female stock character in opera and theatre. The term arrived in English from Provençal via French, and means "conceited" or "coy".-Theater:...
- and boys breeches parts, she moved on to girl's- and heroine parts, in which she was to become most known. In 1832, she became the first Jeanne d'Arc in Orleanska Jungfrun ("The Maid of Lorriane") by Schiller on a Swedish stage, a part in which she was called "burningly tragic" and so famous that people came from the most isolated parts and villages to see her in the small towns she performed, after which she earned her nickname "The Jeanne d'Arc of the country-side". As a person, however, she was described by her colleagues as affected and plotting and very much a diva
Diva
A diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna"....
. The fame was reserved for the countryside, however; when the company performed in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in 1841, it was not given very good critic, and Charlotta Djurstrom was only considered as an averagely good actor within "lighter comedy".
After the death of her husband, Charlotta worked in the troupes of Ellfforss and Hessler and finally at the Ladugårdsland Theatre in Stockholm, where she was still considered as an ornament on the stage until her retirement in 1864. She spent her last years in Norrköping.