Cecilia Elisabeth Würzer (d. 10 April 1761), was a Swedish (originally German) singer and member of the ''

Kungliga Hovkapellet Kungliga Hovkapellet (, "The Royal Court Orchestra") is a Swedish orchestra, originally part of the Royal Court in Sweden's capital Stockholm. Its existence was first recorded in 1526. Since 1773 it is part of the Royal Swedish Opera's company. K ...

'' in 1743-1761. She was one of five women to have been officially members of the Royal Orchestra in the

Age of Liberty In Swedish history, the Age of Liberty () was a period that saw parliamentary governance, increasing civil rights, and the decline of the Swedish Empire that began with the adoption of the Instrument of Government in 1719 and ended with Gustav ...

. Würzer came to Sweden from Germany in 1743 as a member of the Musical company employed by

Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden Adolf (or Adolph) Frederick (; ; 14 May 171012 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death in 1771. He was the son of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin, and Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach. He was an ...

. She was one of only five women to be officially inducted in the Royal Orchestra during the Age of Liberty. However, unlike Judith Fischer,

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 Gustaviana Schröder, she and Hedvig Witte were in fact never paid from the funds of the royal orchestra; Witte was unofficially paid while Würzer was given her salary from the personal funds of Adolf Frederick. Cecilia Elisabeth Würzer were particularly noted for her performance at the funeral of

Frederick I of Sweden Frederick I (; 28 April 1676 – 5 April 1751) was List of Swedish monarchs, King of Sweden from 1720 until his death, having been prince consort of Sweden from 1718 to 1720, and was also Landgrave of Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, Hesse-Kassel fr ...

, when she sang a part written by Johan Helmich Roman with her colleague Eleonora Witte.Anna Ivarsdotter Johnsson och Leif Jonsson: Musiken i Sverige. Frihetstiden och Gustaviansk tid 1720-1810

References

1761 deaths 18th-century Swedish singers Age of Liberty people