Sara Torsslow
Encyclopedia
Sara Fredrica Torsslow, née
Strömstedt (11 June 1795 - 18 June 1859) was a Swedish
actor
at the Royal Dramatic Theatre
in Stockholm
and one of the most popular and notable actors in Swedish history.
merchant, Strömstedt was accepted as a student in the theatre school Dramatens elevskola
in 1807, where she received an invaluable education, in particular from Maria Franck
, one of the greatest stars on the Swedish stage in the first decade of the 19th century; in 1811, she was employed as an actress and, in the following year, she was contracted as a premier actress. She did, however, by no means start out as a "great promise"; she had been a student-actor for four years before she was contracted, and the Theater direction hired her with some reluctance, with the intent to only use her in supporting parts. Her talent matured slowly, but by the 1820s, she was one of the most important members of the Theater's staff.
She was described as an intelligent person with good judgement and energy that was only encouraged by resistance. Her strength lay in emotional, passionate parts. Her voice was a powerful and deep alto, and she was compared with Adelaide Ristori
in her style. Although it was once said that she was capable of playing any part, and she triumphed both in comedy and tragedy, it is as a tragedienne that she is most remembered. She played an appreciated Lady Macbeth
and Lucrezia Borgia
. She was also often used for breeches role
s, in which she was described as very handsome.
There was no rivalry with the other female star of her generation, Charlotta Eriksson
, as their style of acting differed to a degree that avoided any invidious comparison. Rather, Torsslow and Eriksson were considered to complement each other well and played very well together; Crusenstolpe
claimed in the press that nothing was lacking when he saw them do so: "The illusion is so complete, that one thought one lived in reality" with the characters they portrayed. Wikström called her performances "an almost terrible natural truth". She was most frequently used in tragedies, where "her male voice, the grand figure, the deep emotions and the grotesque gestures could display themselves freely".
In the press, Sara Fredrica Strömstedt-Torsslow, Charlotta Eriksson and Elisabeth Frösslind
were compared to a rose
or a tulip
, a jasmine
or a daisy
, and a lily or a myosotis; Torsslow was claimed to represent "the deeply moving", Eriksson "the sensitive pleasantness and the female lovability" and Frösslind "the small sweetness, wittiness and naivety".
In 1825, the Swedish audience adopted the French habit of calling in individual actors after a performance, and Sara Torsslow was the first actor called out on stage in this way after the play Virginia, performed 16 January 1825.
(1801–1881), who was six years her junior. Together they were called "Twin stars of the first order in the sky of Art" and were regarded as the most notable male and female stars of their generation. They had both the fame and the position that they needed to launch two major strikes - indeed, the biggest strikes in the theatre's history - known as "the first Torsslow argument" (in 1827) and "the second Torsslow argument" (in 1834): the first concerned an unpopular director and the second related to an issue of wages, when the actors were displeased with the theatre's plans to replace their percent of the income with wages. They succeeded with their first strike, but the authorities were prepared for the second and, determined to avoid a repetition, crushed the unity of the actors by raising the wages of some and dismissing the others with a pension.
The first strike in 1827 was caused by reforms planned by the director Puke. He planned to abolish the recett (benefit) performances (which gave the whole income from one play to one of the participants) and the actors' shares in the theatre and replace them with a fixed salary. This did not have the support of the actors, as fixed salaries were in most cases low, and the benefit performances and shares were necessary to their personal budgets. Puke had also made himself unpopular with a frequent use of the old disciplinarian rules against the actors, such as the right of the director to place an actor in house arrest in his or her dressing-room. The strike prevented the reform, but all the old rules were kept, as well as the disliked disciplinarian rules; for example, the arrest was abolished only for female actors. The discontent of the old system was voiced by Elisabeth Frösslind, who, when director Puke asked her if she was satisfied with the settlement, answered; "Oh yes, the only thing it lacks is flogging." The next strike was therefore near, and it took place in 1834. This time, the shares was abolished, the salaries were fixed, and the participants of the strike were fired. Some of them, such as Charlotta Eriksson, were only fired so they could be hired again at lower wages.
, from 1837 alone; firstly, they performed in Djurgårdsteatern in summer and toured the country in winter, but from 1839, they challenged the Royal Theatre's monopoly in Stockholm by performing at Djurgårsteatern also in winter, and thus creating a new theatre. Here they entered upon a period of renewed success in their careers: their initiative broke the Royal Theatre's monopoly in Stockholm and it was abolished in 1842. In 1843, they became part owners in the new theatre founded by Anders Lindeberg when the monopoly was abolished, Nya Teatern
, and managed this theatre between 1846-1854.
Her daughter, Helfrid Kinmansson, and her granddaughter, Valborg Moberg, also became known actresses.
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...
Strömstedt (11 June 1795 - 18 June 1859) was a Swedish
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....
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
at the Royal Dramatic Theatre
Royal Dramatic Theatre
The Royal Dramatic Theatre is Sweden's national stage for "spoken drama", founded in 1788. Around one thousand shows are put on annually on the theatre's eight running stages....
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...
and one of the most popular and notable actors in Swedish history.
Biography
As the daughter of a spiceSpice
A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...
merchant, Strömstedt was accepted as a student in the theatre school 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...
in 1807, where she received an invaluable education, in particular from Maria Franck
Maria Franck
Maria Kristina Franck, later Ruckman, , was a Swedish actor, also known as Kristina Ruckman, who later also became principal of the theatre school Dramatens elevskola...
, one of the greatest stars on the Swedish stage in the first decade of the 19th century; in 1811, she was employed as an actress and, in the following year, she was contracted as a premier actress. She did, however, by no means start out as a "great promise"; she had been a student-actor for four years before she was contracted, and the Theater direction hired her with some reluctance, with the intent to only use her in supporting parts. Her talent matured slowly, but by the 1820s, she was one of the most important members of the Theater's staff.
She was described as an intelligent person with good judgement and energy that was only encouraged by resistance. Her strength lay in emotional, passionate parts. Her voice was a powerful and deep alto, and she was compared with Adelaide Ristori
Adelaide Ristori
Adelaide Ristori was a distinguished Italian tragedienne, who was often referred to as the Marquise.-Biography:...
in her style. Although it was once said that she was capable of playing any part, and she triumphed both in comedy and tragedy, it is as a tragedienne that she is most remembered. She played an appreciated Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth may refer to:*Lady Macbeth, from William Shakespeare's play Macbeth**Queen Gruoch of Scotland, the real-life Queen on whom Shakespeare based the character...
and Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
. She was also often used for breeches role
Breeches role
A breeches role is a role in which an actress appears in male clothing .In opera it also refers to any male character that is sung and acted by a female singer...
s, in which she was described as very handsome.
There was no rivalry with the other female star of her generation, Charlotta Eriksson
Charlotta Eriksson
Charlotta Maria Eriksson was a Swedish actress, one of the most popular and notable actors in Sweden in the first half of the 19th century. She was also a translator, an actor-instructor, a vice principal, and a painter....
, as their style of acting differed to a degree that avoided any invidious comparison. Rather, Torsslow and Eriksson were considered to complement each other well and played very well together; Crusenstolpe
Magnus Jacob Crusenstolpe
Magnus Jacob Crusenstolpe , Swedish historian, early became famous both as a political and a historical writer.Crusenstolpe won considerable distinction with a series of historical-romantic tales, ; but his fame rests mainly on his works as a journalist, historian, biographer, and politician...
claimed in the press that nothing was lacking when he saw them do so: "The illusion is so complete, that one thought one lived in reality" with the characters they portrayed. Wikström called her performances "an almost terrible natural truth". She was most frequently used in tragedies, where "her male voice, the grand figure, the deep emotions and the grotesque gestures could display themselves freely".
In the press, Sara Fredrica Strömstedt-Torsslow, Charlotta Eriksson and Elisabeth Frösslind
Elisabeth Frösslind
Kristina Elisabet Frösslind, also called Elise Frösslind, Kristina Elisabet Frösslind, also called Elise Frösslind, Kristina Elisabet Frösslind, also called Elise Frösslind, (27 February 1793 - 24 October 1861, was a Swedish opera singer and actor at the Royal Swedish Opera and the Royal Dramatic...
were compared to a rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
or a tulip
Tulip
The tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...
, a jasmine
Jasmine
Jasminum , commonly known as jasmines, is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family . It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World...
or a daisy
Bellis perennis
Bellis perennis is a common European species of Daisy, often considered the archetypal species of that name. Many related plants also share the name "Daisy", so to distinguish this species from other daisies it is sometimes qualified as Common Daisy, Lawn Daisy or occasionally English daisy. It is...
, and a lily or a myosotis; Torsslow was claimed to represent "the deeply moving", Eriksson "the sensitive pleasantness and the female lovability" and Frösslind "the small sweetness, wittiness and naivety".
In 1825, the Swedish audience adopted the French habit of calling in individual actors after a performance, and Sara Torsslow was the first actor called out on stage in this way after the play Virginia, performed 16 January 1825.
Strikes
In 1830 she married actor Ulrik TorsslowUlrik Torsslow
Olof Ulrik Torsslow , was a Swedish actor and theatre director. He is considered one of the most notable actors in his country's history...
(1801–1881), who was six years her junior. Together they were called "Twin stars of the first order in the sky of Art" and were regarded as the most notable male and female stars of their generation. They had both the fame and the position that they needed to launch two major strikes - indeed, the biggest strikes in the theatre's history - known as "the first Torsslow argument" (in 1827) and "the second Torsslow argument" (in 1834): the first concerned an unpopular director and the second related to an issue of wages, when the actors were displeased with the theatre's plans to replace their percent of the income with wages. They succeeded with their first strike, but the authorities were prepared for the second and, determined to avoid a repetition, crushed the unity of the actors by raising the wages of some and dismissing the others with a pension.
The first strike in 1827 was caused by reforms planned by the director Puke. He planned to abolish the recett (benefit) performances (which gave the whole income from one play to one of the participants) and the actors' shares in the theatre and replace them with a fixed salary. This did not have the support of the actors, as fixed salaries were in most cases low, and the benefit performances and shares were necessary to their personal budgets. Puke had also made himself unpopular with a frequent use of the old disciplinarian rules against the actors, such as the right of the director to place an actor in house arrest in his or her dressing-room. The strike prevented the reform, but all the old rules were kept, as well as the disliked disciplinarian rules; for example, the arrest was abolished only for female actors. The discontent of the old system was voiced by Elisabeth Frösslind, who, when director Puke asked her if she was satisfied with the settlement, answered; "Oh yes, the only thing it lacks is flogging." The next strike was therefore near, and it took place in 1834. This time, the shares was abolished, the salaries were fixed, and the participants of the strike were fired. Some of them, such as Charlotta Eriksson, were only fired so they could be hired again at lower wages.
Breaking the royal theatre monopoly
The Torsslows left the Royal Dramatic Theatre after the strike of 1834, bringing with them a large number of the most popular actors of the day. The theatre monopoly of the royal stages banned other theatres, but they performed in Djurgårdsteatern, a theatre which was normally used only in summer by travelling companies and therefore not regarded as a threat to the monopoly. The Torsslow couple overtook the special right of this theatre from the former director with Pierre DelandPierre Deland
Pierre Joseph Deland, , was a Swedish actor and theatre director. As director of the Deland travelling theatre, he was one of the most famous artists in both Sweden and Finland during the mid 19th century. His troupe inaugurated several of the first theatres founded in the Swedish and Finnish towns...
, from 1837 alone; firstly, they performed in Djurgårdsteatern in summer and toured the country in winter, but from 1839, they challenged the Royal Theatre's monopoly in Stockholm by performing at Djurgårsteatern also in winter, and thus creating a new theatre. Here they entered upon a period of renewed success in their careers: their initiative broke the Royal Theatre's monopoly in Stockholm and it was abolished in 1842. In 1843, they became part owners in the new theatre founded by Anders Lindeberg when the monopoly was abolished, Nya Teatern
Mindre teatern
Mindre teatern , Nya teatern , Lindeberska teatern , was a Swedish theatre at Kungsgatan in Stockholm, active 1842-1863...
, and managed this theatre between 1846-1854.
Death
In 1853, Sara Torsslow was forced to retire after a number of repeated colds that devastated her health, colds she is said to have contracted during the many performances in thin clothes on drafty and cold stages. She died six years later. Her husband Ulrik Torsslow returned to the Royal Dramatic Theatre in 1856 and retired in 1861. Their private life was said to have been very happy, but their income poor.Her daughter, Helfrid Kinmansson, and her granddaughter, Valborg Moberg, also became known actresses.