Sophia Schröder
Encyclopedia
Sophia Schröder was a Swedish soprano
(of German
descent), active as a concert
vocalist at the royal orchestra, the Kungliga Hovkapellet
, at the royal Swedish court, the first woman to have been officially given such a position.
Sophia Schröder was born in Stockholm to German immigrants. In 26 October 1726, women were formally allowed to be employed at Kungliga Hovkapellet; the same year, 1726 Schröder and her colleague Judith Fischer were employed as vocalists at the orchestra of the royal Swedish court, and the follwogin year, they replaced the two boys previously serving as soprano
s. Together, they became historical as the first women officially employed in the then two-hundred-year-old history of the royal orchestra. They were also the first officiall female court singers at the Swedish court since Anne Chabanceau de La Barre
. They were followed by more women in the orchestra during the age of liberty. In 1740, her sister Gustaviana Schröder (1701–1763) was employed in the same capacity at the royal orchestra. In 1751, Hedvig Witte and Cecilia Elisabeth Würzer performed at the burial of King Frederick I of Sweden
.
Sophia Schröder was a court singer, and performed for the royal court at various occasions as well as at the performances of the orchestra; from 1731, the royal orchestra also performed public concert
s at Riddarhuset in Stockholm
. She was a student of Anders von Düben, Casper Gottlob Grünwaldt, Frans Hindrich Meyer, Johan Helmich Roman
, Conrad Arnoldi and Jacob Dedering. Sophia Schröder, as well as her sister, Gustaviana, remained unmarried and kept her position as vocalist until her death in 1750.
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
(of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
descent), active as a concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
vocalist at the royal orchestra, 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....
, at the royal Swedish court, the first woman to have been officially given such a position.
Sophia Schröder was born in Stockholm to German immigrants. In 26 October 1726, women were formally allowed to be employed at Kungliga Hovkapellet; the same year, 1726 Schröder and her colleague Judith Fischer were employed as vocalists at the orchestra of the royal Swedish court, and the follwogin year, they replaced the two boys previously serving as soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
s. Together, they became historical as the first women officially employed in the then two-hundred-year-old history of the royal orchestra. They were also the first officiall female court singers at the Swedish court since Anne Chabanceau de La Barre
Anne Chabanceau de La Barre
Anne Chabanceau de La Barre was a French soprano of the baroque era.She was the daughter of the organist Pierre de la Barre, and made her debut in opera in 1647 in Orfeo by Luigi Rossi....
. They were followed by more women in the orchestra during the age of liberty. In 1740, her sister Gustaviana Schröder (1701–1763) was employed in the same capacity at the royal orchestra. In 1751, Hedvig Witte and Cecilia Elisabeth Würzer performed at the burial of King Frederick I of Sweden
Frederick I of Sweden
Frederick I, , was a prince consort of Sweden from 1718 to 1720, and a King of Sweden from 1720 until his death and also Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1730...
.
Sophia Schröder was a court singer, and performed for the royal court at various occasions as well as at the performances of the orchestra; from 1731, the royal orchestra also performed public concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s at Riddarhuset 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...
. She was a student of Anders von Düben, Casper Gottlob Grünwaldt, Frans Hindrich Meyer, Johan Helmich Roman
Johan Helmich Roman
Johan Helmich Roman was a Swedish Baroque composer. He has been called "the father of Swedish music" or "the Swedish Handel."-Life:...
, Conrad Arnoldi and Jacob Dedering. Sophia Schröder, as well as her sister, Gustaviana, remained unmarried and kept her position as vocalist until her death in 1750.