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 and Finnish history, the Age of Liberty ( sv, frihetstiden; fi, vapauden aika) was a period that saw parliamentary governance, increasing civil rights and the decline of the Swedish Empire that began with Charles XII's death in 1718 ...

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

Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden Adolf Frederick, or Adolph Frederick ( sv, Adolf Fredrik, german: Adolf Friedrich; 14 May 171012 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death. He was the son of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin, and Albertina ...

. 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 people, 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 offic ...

and

Gustaviana Schröder Gustaviana Schröder (1701 – 30 May 1763) was a Swedish court singer and member of the ''Kungliga Hovkapellet'' from 1740 to 1763. She was one of five women to have been official members of the Royal Orchestra in the Age of Liberty. Life Schröd ...

, 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 ( sv, Fredrik I; 28 April 1676 – 5 April 1751) was prince consort of Sweden from 1718 to 1720, and King of Sweden from 1720 until his death and (as ''Frederick I'') also Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1730. He ascended the throne f ...

, when she sang a part written by

Johan Helmich Roman Johan Helmich Roman (26 October 1694 – 20 November 1758) was a Swedish Baroque composer. He has been called "the father of Swedish music" or "the Swedish George Frideric Handel, Handel." He was the leader of Swedish Opera through most of Swedish ...

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