Mathilda Gelhaar
Encyclopedia
Mathilda Fredrika Gelhaar, née
Ficker, (3 September 1813 in Stockholm
- 24 April 1889), was a Swedish opera singer. She was also appointed official singer of the royal court
.
Mathilda was daughter of the musician Ficker at the Kungliga Hovkapellet
, grandchild of the famous Swedish actor Andreas Widerberg and niece of the primadonna Henriette Widerberg
. She was enrolled as a student in Dramatens elevskola
with her sister Charlotta in 1828. She debuted as a child on the stage of the Royal Swedish Opera
in 1829 and was contracted in 1834. She was counted among the most notable talents in the Swedish Opera of her time, particularly since the departure of Jenny Lind. she was described as a skillful coloratura soprano
. One of her most remembered performances was a duet with Jenny Lind
. She was made royal court singer in 1837. She retired in 1858.
She married a musician at Kungliga Hovkapellet
, Fredrik Gelhaar, in 1836. Her daughter Wilhelmina Gelhaar also became an opera singer. Her sister, known as Charlotta Almlöf
after her marriage to Nils Almlöf
, became a noted dramatic actress.
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Ficker, (3 September 1813 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...
- 24 April 1889), was a Swedish opera singer. She was also appointed official singer of the royal court
Hovsångare
Hovsångare , literally Court Singer, is a title awarded by the Swedish monarch to a singer who, by their vocal art, has contributed to the international standing of Swedish singing. The formal title was introduced by King Gustav III of Sweden in 1773, with the first recipients being Elisabeth Olin...
.
Mathilda was daughter of the musician Ficker at the Kungliga Hovkapellet
Kungliga Hovkapellet
Kungliga Hovkapellet , is a Swedish orchestra and was located at the Royal Court in Sweden's capital Stockholm. It was first recorded in 1526. Since 1773 it is part of the Royal Swedish Opera's company....
, grandchild of the famous Swedish actor Andreas Widerberg and niece of the primadonna Henriette Widerberg
Henriette Widerberg
Henriette Sophie Widerberg was a Swedish opera singer , actor and memoirist. The most famed singer on the Swedish stage of her time, she was counted as the most popular singer in Sweden during the 1810s and 1830s...
. She was enrolled as a student in 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...
with her sister Charlotta in 1828. She debuted as a child on the stage of the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
in 1829 and was contracted in 1834. She was counted among the most notable talents in the Swedish Opera of her time, particularly since the departure of Jenny Lind. she was described as a skillful coloratura soprano
Coloratura soprano
A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic soprano who specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs and leaps. The term coloratura refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, which is a typical component of the music written for this voice...
. One of her most remembered performances was a duet with Jenny Lind
Jenny Lind
Johanna Maria Lind , better known as Jenny Lind, was a Swedish opera singer, often known as the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she is known for her performances in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and across Europe, and for an extraordinarily...
. She was made royal court singer in 1837. She retired in 1858.
She married a musician at Kungliga Hovkapellet
Kungliga Hovkapellet
Kungliga Hovkapellet , is a Swedish orchestra and was located at the Royal Court in Sweden's capital Stockholm. It was first recorded in 1526. Since 1773 it is part of the Royal Swedish Opera's company....
, Fredrik Gelhaar, in 1836. Her daughter Wilhelmina Gelhaar also became an opera singer. Her sister, known as Charlotta Almlöf
Charlotta Almlöf
Anna Maria Franziska Charlotta Almlöf, née Ficker, , was a Swedish stage actress.Daughter of Christian Fredrik Ficker, a musician at Kungliga Hovkapellet, and sister of the opera singer Mathilda Gelhaar, she was enrolled in Dramatens elevskola in 1830...
after her marriage to Nils Almlöf
Nils Almlöf
Nils Vilhelm Almlöf, was a Swedish actor, considered as one of the most famous in the 19th century, called "The Swedish Talma".Child of a court servant, Nils Almlöf, he interrupted his medical studies to study singing under Craelius of the Royal Swedish Opera, where he was successful as Leicester...
, became a noted dramatic actress.