Kungliga Hovkapellet (, "The Royal Court Orchestra") is a Swedish orchestra, originally part of the

Royal Court A royal court, often called simply a court when the royal context is clear, is an extended royal household in a monarchy, including all those who regularly attend on a monarch, or another central figure. Hence, the word ''court'' may also be app ...

in Sweden's capital

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

. Its existence was first recorded in 1526. Since 1773 it is part 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 ...

's company. Kungliga Hovkapellet is one of the oldest active orchestras in the world. It was first recorded in the royal account books from 1526. The orchestra originally consisted of both musicians and singers. It had only male members until 1727, when

Sophia Schröder Sophia Schröder (Stockholm, 1712 – 29 January 1750) was a Swedish soprano, active as a concert vocalist at the royal orchestra, the ''Kungliga Hovkapellet'', at the royal Swedish court, the first of her gender to have been officially given su ...

and Judith Fischer were employed as vocalists; in the 1850s, the harpist

Marie Pauline Åhman Marie may refer to the following. People Given name * Marie (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** List of people named Marie * Marie (Japanese given name) Surname * Jean Gabriel-Marie, French compo ...

became the first female instrumentalist. It had a golden age under the leadership of several members of the Düben family during the 17th century. In the 18th century, its directors included Johan Helmich Roman and Francesco Uttini. From 1731, public concerts were performed at

Riddarhuset The House of Nobility () in Stockholm, Sweden, is a corporation and a building that maintains records and acts as an interest group on behalf of the Swedish nobility. Name The name is literally translated as ''House of Knights'', as the knight ...

in Stockholm. Since 1773, when the Royal Swedish Opera was founded by

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 ...

, the Kungliga Hovkapellet has been part of the opera's company.

Notes

References

*Ivarsdotter Johnson, Anna & Leif Jonsson (eds.): ''Musiken i Sverige. 2. Frihetstid och gustaviansk tid 1720-1810'' ("Music in Sweden. The Age of Liberty and the Gustavian age 1720-1810"). Stockholm: Fischer, 1993 (Swedish) *Jonsson, Leif; Ann-Marie Nilsson & Greger Andersson: ''Musiken i Sverige. 1, Från forntid till stormaktstidens slut'' ("Music in Sweden. From Ancient times to the end of the Age of Empire"). Stockholm: Fischer, 1994 (Swedish) *Petersén, Gunilla:
From the History of the Royal Swedish Orchestra 1526-2007
, at the official website of the Kungliga Hovkapellet. (Retrieved on 11 April 2009) *Official Orchestra website

{{Authority control 1520s establishments in Sweden 1526 establishments in Europe Organizations established in the 1520s Musical groups established in the 16th century Orchestras in Stockholm

See also

Notes

References