Ruth Ester Althén née Whitefield (1890–1985) was a Swedish operatic soprano. Trained by Thekla Hofer and Ture Rangström, she made her début 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 1915 with the title role in '' Aida''. Engaged by the Royal Opera in 1918, she also performed in concerts.

Biography

Born in

Kristianstad Kristianstad (, ; older spelling from Danish language, Danish ''Christianstad'') is a Urban areas in Sweden, city and the seat of Kristianstad Municipality, Scania County, Sweden with 40,145 inhabitants in 2016. During the last 15 years, it has ...

on 11 September 1890, Ruth Ester Whitefield was the daughter of the businessman Nils Whitefield and his wife Ingrid née Hanson. She studied voice in Stockholm under Thekla Hofer, Ture Rangström and Haldis Ingebjart. She continued training in Berlin under

Ernst Grenzebach Ernst Grenzebach (14 February 1871 – 29 May 1936) was a German concert baritone and voice teacher. He taught, among others, two of the most famous European heroic tenors: Max Lorenz and Lauritz Melchior. Life and career Born in Berlin, Grenz ...

and in Milan under Vittorio Maria Vanzo and

Giannina Russ Giannina Russ was born on 27 March, 1873 in Lodi. She was an Italian operatic dramatic soprano, particularly associated with the Italian repertory. She died on 28 February, 1951 in Milan. Life and career Russ studied piano and voice at the Mi ...

. In 1918 she married the organist and composer The marriage was dissolved in 1941. She made her début as Aida in 1914 at the Royal Swedish Opera where she was engaged in 1918. Other successful roles included Elsa in '' Lohengrin'', Elena in '' Mefistofele'' and Elisabet in ''

Tannhäuser Tannhäuser (; gmh, Tanhûser), often stylized, "The Tannhäuser," was a German Minnesinger and traveling poet. Historically, his biography, including the dates he lived, is obscure beyond the poetry, which suggests he lived between 1245 and 1 ...

''. She also played Desdemona in ''

Otello ''Otello'' () is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play ''Othello''. It was Verdi's penultimate opera, first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on 5 February 1887. Th ...

'', Rosina in ''

The Marriage of Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' ( it, Le nozze di Figaro, links=no, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premie ...

'' and Emerentia in ''

The Doomsday Prophets ''The Doomsday Prophets'' (Swedish: ''Domedagsprofeterna'') is an opera by Wilhelm Peterson-Berger, to his own Swedish libretto, composed from 1912–17. It was first performed at the Royal Opera, Stockholm on 21 February 1919. Background ...

''. In 1927, she performed in the Swedish première of '' Turandot''. She also performed in concerts. Ruth Althén died in Stockholm on 13 September 1985 and was buried in Östra Begravningsplatsen i Kristianstad.

Discography

Ruth Althén is one of the singers on the His Master's Voice recording "Operan (Röster Från Stockholmsoperan Under 100 År" where she sings "Desdemonas Bön" from Verdi's ''Otello''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Althen, Ruth 1890 births 1985 deaths People from Kristianstad Municipality Musicians from Skåne County Swedish operatic sopranos