Wilhelmina ("Mina") Christina Fundin (12 July 1819 – 28 January 1911) was a Swedish

operatic soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

who sang at the Royal Swedish Opera without interruption for 30 years. In the mid-1800s, she was considered to be one of the opera's most talented performers.

Biography

Born on 12 July 1819 in Stockholm, Wilhelmina Fundin was the daughter of the precentor of St Clara's Church, Carl Axel Fundin, and Christina Margaretha Wikström. Her mother managed a boarding home for the students of the

Royal Dramatic Training Academy 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 ...

in 1837-47. Her friend and colleague Jenny Lind met when she was fourteen. She called her "Mina Fundin" and they were cared for by the theatre who had adopted them as contracted apprentices. After entering the Royal Theatre's school in 1833, she was engaged as an actress and opera singer in 1841. When her friend Jenny Lind was touring abroad and after she left Sweden, Fundin took on her leading roles. She visited Jenny Lind in Germany during Lind's German tour, but despite invitations, she refused to visit her in England because of her fear of sea travel. As a person, Wilhelmina Fundin was described: :"A warm interest for her art, a diligence worthy of respect, a graceful and pleasing appearance, a lovable personality, and a modest underestimation of her own talent, are the admirable qualities known to be the character of Wilhelmina Fundin."Wilhelmina Fundin in Arvid Ahnfelt, ''Europas konstnärer'' (1887). Among her most appreciated roles were the Queen of the Night in ''

The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (German: , ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a '' Singspiel'', a popular form during the time it was written that in ...

'', Adalgisa in ''

Norma Norma may refer to: * Norma (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) Astronomy *Norma (constellation) *555 Norma, a minor asteroid * Cygnus Arm or Norma Arm, a spiral arm in the Milky Way galaxy Geography *Norma, Lazi ...

'', and Leonora in '' Alessandro Stradella''. She retired from the stage in 1871. Wilhelmina Fundin died in Stockholm on 28 January 1911.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fundin, Wilhelmina 19th-century Swedish women opera singers Swedish operatic sopranos 1819 births 1911 deaths Singers from Stockholm