Franziska Stading
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Sofia ''Franziska'' Stading (1763 – 8 February 1836) was a Swedish
opera singer Opera is a form of Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a lib ...
of German origin. She is referred to as one of the more notable opera singers in Sweden during the Gustavian era. She was a ''
Hovsångare The titles hovsångare (, literally "Court Singer") for men and hovsångerska () for women are awarded by the Swedish monarch to a singer (usually an opera singer) who, by their vocal art, has contributed to the international standing of Swedish s ...
'' and member of the
Royal Swedish Academy of Music The Royal Swedish Academy of Music (), founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in ...
from 1788.


Life

Franziska Stading was born in
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
in
Prussia Prussia (; ; Old Prussian: ''Prūsija'') was a Germans, German state centred on the North European Plain that originated from the 1525 secularization of the Prussia (region), Prussian part of the State of the Teutonic Order. For centuries, ...
in
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
as the stepchild of the musician Josef Hummel, father of
Johann Nepomuk Hummel Johann Nepomuk Hummel (14 November 177817 October 1837) was an Austrian composer and pianist. His music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era. He was a pupil of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Salieri, and ...
. She appears to have been raised in
The Hague The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...
in the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, and was reportedly at some point a student of Gertrud Elisabeth Mara in singing, and the pedagogue Graaf in music. She reportedly arrived in Stockholm in Sweden as the relative of the German violinist Friedrich Benedict Augusti, the spouse of the opera singer
Lovisa Augusti Lovisa Sofia Augusti (born Ester Salomon; 1751– 25 June 1790) was a Swedish opera singer (soprano). She was regarded as one of the most noted opera singers of the Royal Swedish Opera during the Gustavian era. She was appointed ''Hovsångare'' ...
of the
Royal Swedish Opera Royal Swedish Opera () is an opera and ballet company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Location and environment The building is located in the centre of Sweden's capital, Stockholm, in the borough of Norrmalm (borough), Norrmalm, on the eastern si ...
, where she was accepted as a student in 1773. Franziska Stading was unmarried but may have had a daughter, as Evelina Stading is referred to both as her daughter or her niece in various sources.


Career

Franziska Stading performed in a concert arranged by the
Royal Swedish Academy of Music The Royal Swedish Academy of Music (), founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in ...
in 1778. The following year, she made her official stage début as an opera singer at
Drottningholm Palace Theatre The Drottningholm Palace Theatre () is an opera house located at Drottningholm Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. It is one of the few 18th century theatres in Europe that is still used as a theatre with its original stage machinery. Currently, the r ...
in the part of queen Myris in the
opéra-comique The Opéra-Comique () is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular Théâtre de la foire, theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief riva ...
''Arsene'' by Monsigny in 1779, when she was given a contract as premier actress. Her debut has been described: "In a small insignificant role in Arséne a young German, Franciska Stading, was heard for the first time, and came to conquer an important place in the history of the Swedish theater with the sweet and modest pleasantness, the simplicity and lack of vanity, which characterized her song and acting", and Marianne Ehrenström commented about her that "Her dark eyes could touch even a stone."Personne, Nils,
Del 1 Under gustavianska tidehvarfvet jämte en återblick på dess tidigare öden
'
Stading made a great success in the title role of the opera ''Cora och Alonzo'' by Naumann at the inauguration of the new building of the Royal Swedish Opera on 30 September 1782, after which she came to be one of the most celebrated stars in the opera of the Gustavian era, admired both as an opera singer and for her dramatic ability as an actress. Of all the idol images printed of the singers of the opera, she was the only one of her generation (male or female) to have three different versions of her portrait printed simultaneously. When Lovisa Augusti died in 1790, Stading and Caroline Frederikke Müller reportedly shared the position of the leading prima donna of the Royal Swedish Opera, and divided the female main parts of the biggest opera's between themselves. She performed leading roles in many of the new Swedish opera plays of the era, such as Margareta Wasa in ''Gustaf Wasa'' by Naumann with text by Johan Henric Kellgren (1786), the title role of ''Frigga'' by Åhlström (1787), and the female lead of Ebba Brahe in ''Gustaf Adolph och Ebba Brahe'' by Vogler and Kellgren (1788). She was also appreciated in several French opéra-comiques by Dalayrac and Grétry, such as Andromaque (1785). When she acted in ''Iphigenia i Aulis'' by Glück in the season of 1802-03, she was one of the first do adopt the new way of dressing in costumes adjusted to the time period of the role, which was an innovation at that time. One of her greatest successes was reportedly the part of Antigone in ''Oedip i Athen'' by Sacchini (1800), in which she, according to
Malla Silfverstolpe Magdalena Sofia "Malla" Silfverstolpe (''née'' Montgomery; 8 February 1782 – 17 January 1861) was a Sweden, Swedish writer and Salon (gathering), salon hostess. Her house in Uppsala was a meeting place for many prominent writers, composers ...
, displayed "the mild innocence and also the heroic dé-vouement which all the sweetest of female characters possess", which Skjöldebrand described from Paris in 1810: "I saw the opera Oedipe this evening... and found with a certain patriotic pleasure that it was better in Stockholm, contributing primarily to the great advantage of Karsten in song as well as action ... and also the truth, the touching impression, in which Antigone was previously performed by
mamsell (from the French ) was a historical Swedish honorific used for unmarried middle class women from about the mid 18th-century until 1866. The title was primarily used for women in the burgher and the clergy classes. The word was replaced after the ...
Stading." In 1788, she was given recognition as a leading figure of Swedish musical life by her appointment of ''Hovsångare'' and her induction to chair nr. 107 of the
Royal Swedish Academy of Music The Royal Swedish Academy of Music (), founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in ...
the 2 February of that year. Her induction to the Academy was a great honor awarded only to the absolute Musical elite: until that year, Elisabeth Olin had been the only woman member, but in 1788, Stading was inducted alongside Caroline Frederikke Müller and Lovisa Augusti. Franziska Stading never married. As a private person, it is mentioned that she enjoyed to visit the concerts of Royal Swedish Academy of Music as a part of the audience. On the funeral of
Gustav III of Sweden Gustav III (29 March 1792), also called ''Gustavus III'', was King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. He was the eldest son of King Adolf Frederick and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Sweden. Gustav was a vocal opponent of what he s ...
on 14 May 1792, Franziska Stading, Caroline Frederikke Müller, Christopher Christian Karsten,
Carl Stenborg Carl Stenborg (8 September 1752 – 1 August 1813) was a Swedish opera singer, composer and theatre director. He belonged to the pioneer generation of the Royal Swedish Opera and was regarded as one of the leading opera singers of the Gustavian e ...
and
Elisabeth Olin Elisabeth Olin née ''Lillström'' (December 1740 – 26 March 1828) was a Swedish opera singer and a music composer. She performed the leading female role in the inauguration performance of the Royal Swedish Opera in 1773, and is referred to ...
performed as soloists in
Riddarholmskyrkan Riddarholmen Church () is the Church (building), church of the former medieval Greyfriars Monastery, Stockholm, Greyfriars Monastery in Stockholm, Sweden. The church serves as the final resting place of most Monarchs of Sweden, Swedish monarchs. ...
in a song by Joseph Martin Kraus with text from Carl Gustaf af Leopold. She also performed with Christopher Christian Karsten, Elisabeth Olin and Carl Stenborg at the funeral of Joseph Martin Kraus in 1798.S Francisca Stading, urn:sbl:20026, Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av Anna Ivarsdotter), hämtad 2018-06-05. In 1806, Franziska Stading retired from the stage with a full royal pension and left Sweden to settle in Dresden in Germany, where she died.


Roles

She played the main part in ''Cora och Alonzo'' by Naumann at the premier of the new building of the Opera in the 1782–83 season opposite
Elisabeth Olin Elisabeth Olin née ''Lillström'' (December 1740 – 26 March 1828) was a Swedish opera singer and a music composer. She performed the leading female role in the inauguration performance of the Royal Swedish Opera in 1773, and is referred to ...
and
Carl Stenborg Carl Stenborg (8 September 1752 – 1 August 1813) was a Swedish opera singer, composer and theatre director. He belonged to the pioneer generation of the Royal Swedish Opera and was regarded as one of the leading opera singers of the Gustavian e ...
, and Margareta Vasa in ''Gustav Vasa'' by Gustav III, the 19 January 1786, an opera called the greatest triumph of the Gustavian opera, regarded as her greatest part. Among her other parts where Myris in ''Arséne'' by Monsigny the 1779–80 year season, Sangaride in ''Atys'' by Piccini 1784–85 season,
Andromache In Greek mythology, Andromache (; , ) was the wife of Hector, daughter of Eetion, and sister to Podes. She was born and raised in the city of Cilician Thebe, over which her father ruled. The name means "man battler", "fighter of men" or "m ...
in ''
Andromaque ''Andromaque'' is a tragedy in five acts by the France, French playwright Jean Racine written in French alexandrine, alexandrine verse. It was first performed on 17 November 1667 before the court of Louis XIV in the Louvre Palace, Louvre in the pr ...
'' by Racine 1785–86, the goddess Frigga in ''Frigga'' by Gustav III, 1786–87, Elektra in ''Elektra'' by
Johann Christian Friedrich Hæffner Johann Christian Friedrich Hæffner (2 March 1759 in Oberschönau – 28 May 1833 in Uppsala) was a German-born Swedish composer. Hæffner received his first musical education with the Schmalkalden organist Johann Gottfried Vierling. H ...
and
Ebba Brahe Ebba Magnusdotter Brahe (16 March 1596 – 5 January 1674) was a Swedish countess, landowner, and courtier. She is foremost known for being the love object of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, who wished to marry her prior to his own marriage, a ...
in ''Gustav Adolf och Ebba Brahe'' (Gustav Adolf and Ebba Brahe) by Gustav III 1787–88, Ingrid in ''Folke Birgersson till Ringstad'' (Folke Birgersson of Ringstad) by Gustav III 1792–93, Charlotte in ''Renaud d'Ast'' by Dalayrac 1795–96,
Antigone ANTIGONE (Algorithms for coNTinuous / Integer Global Optimization of Nonlinear Equations), is a deterministic global optimization solver for general Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programs (MINLP). History ANTIGONE is an evolution of GloMIQO, a global ...
in ''Oidipus i Athen'' (Oidipus in Athens) by Sacchini 1800–01 opposite
Christoffer Christian Karsten Christoffer Christian (or ''Kristofer Kristian'') Karsten (9 September 1756 – 6 August 1827) was a Swedish opera singer. He was the maternal grandfather of the ballerina Marie Taglioni. Life Born in Ystad, he was discovered by queen ...
and Anais in ''Anakreon på Samos'' (Anachreon on Samos) by Gretry during the 1802–03 season.


Legacy

Gustav Löwenhielm mentioned her importance in Swedish theater and opera history in the 19th century, during a discussion about the employment of foreign artists, when he pointed out that several of the artists during the foundation of the Royal Swedish Opera and the Royal Dramatic Theatre had been foreigners:
"Is it impossible to engage Mr Berg and Miss Schoultz? - Generally, I can not see how we can elude the employment of half grown foreigners. Gustav III's '' Swedish'' national theatre started with the '' Danish'' Mrs Müller, the '' French'' Mrs Marcadet, the ''
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
'' Mamsell Stading, the ''German'' Mrs Augusti and the '' Polish'' Mrs Karsten. These ladies occupied our stage and kept it from the foundation of the opera and the premature departure of Mrs Olin in the beginning of the 1780s, until the year of 1800, when the school of Mrs Desguillons had created Mamsell Wässelia cum celeris."Nordensvan, Georg, Svensk teater och svenska skådespelare från Gustav III till våra dagar. Förra delen, 1772-1842 Swedish theatre and Swedish actors from the days of Gustav III to our days. First Book 1772-1842'Bonnier, Stockholm, 1917


References

* Franziska Stading i Wilhelmina Stålberg, Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor (1864) * Andersson Ingvar, red (1979). Gustavianskt: 771-1810: en bokfilm. Ny svensk historia, 99-0172400-7 ( y utg.. Stockholm: Wahlström & Widstrand. Libris 7280367. * Nordensvan, Georg (1917). Svensk teater och svenska skådespelare från Gustav III till våra dagar. Förra delen, 1772-1842. Stockholm: Bonnier. Libris 8073965 * Dahl Torsten, Bohman Nils, red (1954). Svenska män och kvinnor: biografisk uppslagsbok. 7, Sibylla-Tjällgren. Stockholm: Bonnier. Libris 53806 * Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta (1939). Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok. 8, 1807-1811. Stockholm: Norstedt. Libris 8207717 * Arvid Ahnfelt, Europas konstnärer (1887) * Nyström, Pia; Kyhlberg-Boström Anna, Elmquist Anne-Marie (1996). Kungl. Musikaliska akademien: matrikel 1771–1995. Kungl. Musikaliska akademiens skriftserie, 84 (2., reviderad och utökad upplaga). Stockholm: Kungliga Musikaliska Akademien. Libris 7749167. * * Kungliga teaterns repertoar 1773-1973 Repertoire of the Royal Theatre 1773-1973' 1974 * ''Sohlmans musiklexikon'' Sohlman Music Dictionary'


Further reading

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Stading, Franziska 1763 births 1836 deaths Expatriate actresses in Sweden 18th-century Swedish women opera singers Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Gustavian era people Women singers from the Kingdom of Prussia