''Mathilda'' Fredrika Gelhaar (née Ficker; 3 September 1814 in

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

– 24 April 1889) was a Swedish

opera singer Opera is a form of 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 libretti ...

. She was also appointed official singer of the royal court. Mathilda Gelhaar was the daughter of Christian Fredrik Ficker, a musician at 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 ...

'', and Johanna Charlotta Widerberg. She was the sister of the actress

Charlotta Almlöf Anna Maria Franziska "Charlotta" Almlöf (née Ficker; June 16, 1813 – November 11, 1882) was a Swedish stage actress. She belonged to the star actresses of the Royal Dramatic Theatre.Nordensvan, Georg, Svensk teater och svenska skådespelare f ...

, granddaughter of the actor

Andreas Widerberg Andreas Widerberg (28 October 1766- 25 April 1810) was a Swedish stage actor. He belonged to the elite of the pioneer generation actors of the Royal Dramatic Theatre. He was famous for his roles as hero and lover and noticed for his attractive lo ...

and niece of the opera

primadonna In opera or commedia dell'arte, a prima donna (; Italian for "first lady"; plural: ''prime donne'') is the leading female singer in the company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. ''Prime donne'' often had grand off-stage pers ...

Henriette Widerberg Henriette Sophie Widerberg (3 September 1796 – 3 April 1872) was a Swedish opera singer ( soprano) and memoirist. She was an elite member of the Royal Swedish Opera and its prima donna for over twenty years. She was appointed ''Hovsångare'' ...

. In 1836, she married Fredrik Gelhaar, musician at ''

''. She was the mother of the opera singer

Wilhelmina Gelhaar Wilhelmina Charlotta Gelhaar (1837–1923) was a Swedish operatic soprano who performed at the Royal Swedish Opera, Royal Theatre in Stockholm from 1857 to 1866. She also gave concert performances. Thanks to her coloratura soprano roles, her good ...

. She was enrolled as a student in ''

Dramatens elevskola The Royal Dramatic Training Academy ( sv, Kungliga Dramatiska Teaterns Elevskola, also known as ''Dramatens elevskola''), was the acting school of Sweden's national stage, the Royal Dramatic Theatre, and for many years (1787–1964) seen as the f ...

'' with her sister in 1828, where Mathilda was trained as a singer and Charlotta as an actor. She made her debut at the

Royal Swedish Opera Royal Swedish Opera ( sv, Kungliga Operan) is an opera and ballet company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Location and environment The building is located in the center of Sweden's capital Stockholm in the borough of Norrmalm, on the eastern side ...

in 1829, and was engaged at the royal opera in 1834-58. Mathilda Gelhaar was referred to as one of the most noted singers of the Swedish Opera, particularly in the 1840s and 1850s. She was described as a skillful

coloratura soprano A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic soprano voice that specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs, leaps and trills. The term '' coloratura'' refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, which is a typical component o ...

. One of her most famed performances was a duet with

Jenny Lind Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and a ...

. She retired in 1858. Mathilda Gelhaar was made ''

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 ...

'' in 1837.

References

*
Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor
', 1864 * Österberg, Carin et al., ''Svenska kvinnor: föregångare, nyskapare''. Lund: Signum 1990. () * Sohlmans musiklexikon, andra bandet, 1950 *
Nordisk familjebok / 1800-talsutgåvan. 5. Folkvisor - Grimnesmål
' {{DEFAULTSORT:Gelhaar, Mathilda 1814 births 1889 deaths 19th-century Swedish women opera singers Swedish operatic sopranos