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 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 ...

) who, by their vocal art, has contributed to the international standing of Swedish singing. The formal title was introduced by King

Gustav III of Sweden Gustav III (29 March 1792), also called ''Gustavus III'', was King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. He was the eldest son of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia. Gustav was a vocal opponent of what ...

in 1773, with the first recipients being

Elisabeth Olin Elisabeth Olin née ''Lillström'' (December 1740 – 26 March 1828) was a Swedish opera singer and a music composer. She performed the leading female role in the inauguration performance of the Royal Swedish Opera in 1773, and is referred to a ...

and

Carl Stenborg Carl Stenborg (8 September 1752 – 1 August 1813) was a Swedish opera singer, composer and theatre director. He belonged to the pioneer generation of the Royal Swedish Opera and was regarded as one of the leading opera singers of the Gustavian e ...

. The position as such, however, dates back to the 17th century, when

Anne Chabanceau de La Barre Anne Chabanceau de La Barre (1628–1688) was a French soprano of the baroque era. She was the daughter of Pierre Chabanceau de La Barre (1592-1656), organist of the '' chapelle royale'' at Notre-Dame, ''sieur'' of La Barre, Jacques-Gabriel Pr ...

and Joseph Chabanceau de La Barre were singers at the court of

Queen Christina of Sweden Christina ( sv, Kristina, 18 December (New Style) 1626 – 19 April 1689), a member of the House of Vasa, was Queen of Sweden in her own right from 1632 until her abdication in 1654. She succeeded her father Gustavus Adolphus upon his death ...

Named

21st century

* 2021:

Ann Hallenberg Ann Hallenberg (born 17 March 1967) is a Swedish mezzo-soprano. She has a busy career on the stage and concert platform around Europe embracing roles by Rossini, Mozart, Gluck, Handel, Vivaldi, Monteverdi, and Purcell. Hallenberg studied at the ...

, John Lundgren * 2018:

Malin Byström Malin Byström (; born 3 September 1973) is a Swedish lyric soprano who has sung leading roles at many of the world's most prestigious opera houses. Early life and education Byström was born in Helsingborg. She studied at the Academy of Music an ...

Katarina Karnéus Katarina Esmé Marie Karnéus (born 26 November 1965) is a Swedish mezzo-soprano opera singer, winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, active on many of the opera world's major stages such as the Metropolitan Opera and the P ...

, Daniel Johansson."Nya hovsångare"
Kungliga Hovstaterna, Accessed 2018-06-12. * 2013:

Elin Rombo Eva Elin Rombo, née Karlsson (born 29 January 1976), is a Swedish operatic soprano. In November 2013 she was named '' Hovsångerska''. Biography Rombo grew up in a musical family in Katrineholm and studied at the esthetics program at in Norrk� ...

, Michael Weinius * 2010: Anna Larsson,

Malena Ernman Sara Magdalena Ernman (born 4 November 1970) is a Swedish opera singer. Besides operas and operettas, she has also performed chansons, cabaret, jazz, and appeared in musicals. She is a member of The Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Ernman repres ...

Miah Persson Miah Persson (born 27 May 1969 in Örnsköldsvik) is a Swedish soprano, active internationally and in recordings. Career Miah Persson grew up in Hudiksvall, singing in choirs and taking part in amateur drama productions. After studying social sci ...

* 2006:

Nina Stemme Nina Maria Stemme (born Nina Maria Thöldte on 11 May 1963) is a Swedish dramatic soprano opera singer. Stemme "is regarded by today's opera fans as our era's greatest Wagnerian soprano". In 2010, Michael Kimmelman wrote of one of Stemme's perf ...

Hillevi Martinpelto Hillevi Martinpelto (born 9 January 1958 in Älvdalen) is a Swedish lyric soprano. She made her debut in '' Madama Butterfly'' by Giacomo Puccini in 1987. She is best known for her work with John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi Choir. With Ga ...

* 2004: Karl-Magnus Fredriksson,

Peter Mattei Peter Mattei (born 3 June 1965) is a Swedish operatic baritone, particularly known for his performances in Mozart's baritone roles. Biography Mattei studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, and debuted in Mozart's '' La finta giardiniera' ...

* 2003:

Loa Falkman Carl Johan "Loa" Falkman (born 24 July 1947) is a Swedish opera singer, actor and artist. He was appointed hovsångare by H.M. the King of Sweden in 2003.http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt Swedish Royal Court official home page After studying ...

* 2002: Helena Döse * 2000:

Katarina Dalayman Katarina Dalayman (born January 25, 1963 in Stockholm) is a Swedish former soprano who has transitioned into a mezzosoprano. She has received critical acclaim singing major operatic roles by composers such as Wagner, Berg, Shostakovich and Bart� ...

Ingrid Tobiasson ''Ingrid'' Margareta Tobiasson (born February 2, 1951 in Stockholm) is a Swedish mezzo-soprano opera singer. Her principal roles in an extremely versatile career include the title role in Bizet's ''Carmen'' and ''Elisabetta'' in Donizetti's ''Mar ...

20th century

* 1999: Lena Nordin * 1995:

Anne Sofie von Otter Anne Sofie von Otter (born 9 May 1955) is a Swedish mezzo-soprano. Her repertoire encompasses lieder, operas, oratorios and also rock and pop songs. Early life Von Otter was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Her father was Göran von Otter, a Swe ...

Birgitta Svendén Birgitta Svendén (née Lundberg, 20 March 1952), is a Swedish operatic mezzo-soprano. Svendén was born in Porjus and then raised in Vuollerim. She studied at Operahögskolan in Stockholm, and later embarked on an international career in the f ...

* 1994: Siv Wennberg * 1992: Jerker Arvidson, Anita Soldh * 1990: MariAnne Häggander, Björn Asker * 1988: Britt Marie Aruhn, Elisabeth Erikson, Gösta Winbergh * 1985:

Håkan Hagegård Nils Olov Håkan Hagegård (born 25 November 1945)

, Laila Andersson-Palme * 1983: Sylvia Lindenstrand, Bengt Rundgren * 1978: Arne Tyrén * 1976:

Ragnar Ulfung Ragnar Sigurd Ulfung (born 28 February 1927) is a Norwegian operatic tenor. Described in the '' Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' as "a brilliant actor with an incisive voice", he was particularly known for his portrayals of Herod ('' Salo ...

, Edith Thallaug,

Berit Lindholm Berit Lindholm (born Berit Maria Jonsson, 18 October 1934) is a Swedish soprano. Born in Stockholm, Lindholm studied at the opera school in that city before making her debut at the Royal Swedish Opera in 1963. She sang at the Royal Opera House ...

* 1973:

Ingvar Wixell Karl Gustaf Ingvar Wixell (7 May 19318 October 2011) was a Swedish baritone who had an active international career in operas and concerts from 1955 to 2003. He mostly sang roles from the Italian repertory, and, according to ''The New York Times'' ...

Birgit Nordin Birgit Nordin (22 February 1934 – 7 April 2022) was a Swedish operatic soprano. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Opera from 1958 to 1986, and regularly appeared at the Drottningholm Festival where she performed twelve major Mozart roles ...

-Arvidson, Carl-Axel Hallgren * 1972:

Alice Babs Hildur Alice Nilsson (26 January 1924 – 11 February 2014), known by her stage name Alice Babs, was a Swedish singer and actress. She worked in a wide number of genres – Swedish folklore, Elizabethan songs and opera. While she was best known i ...

Sjöblom, * 1968: Barbro Ericson-Hederén * 1966:

Margareta Hallin Gunhild Margareta Hallin Ekerot (20 February 1931 – 9 February 2020) was a Swedish opera singer, composer and actress. Early life and debut Hallin was born on 20 February 1931, in Karlskoga. She made her debut during her time as a student at ...

Erik Saedén Carl Erik Sædén (3 September 1924, in Vänersborg – 3 November 2009), was a Swedish bass-baritone whose career was principally centred on Stockholm, both on the operatic stage as well as the concert platform. He made a few recordings and app ...

* 1965:

Nicolai Gedda Harry Gustaf Nikolai Gädda, known professionally as Nicolai Gedda (11 July 1925 – 8 January 2017), was a Swedish operatic tenor. Debuting in 1951, Gedda had a long and successful career in opera until the age of 77 in June 2003, when he made h ...

* 1963:

Kerstin Meyer Kerstin Margareta Meyer, CBE (3 April 1928 – 14 April 2020) was a Swedish mezzo-soprano who enjoyed an international career in opera and concert. A long-time member of the Royal Swedish Opera and Hamburg State Opera, she appeared regular ...

-Bexelius * 1959:

Elisabeth Söderström Anna Elisabeth Söderström (married name Olow; 7 May 192720 November 2009) was a Swedish soprano who performed both opera and song, and was known as a leading interpreter of the works of Janáček, Rachmaninoff and Sibelius.Elizabeth Sleeman, ' ...

-Olow * 1955:

Birgit Nilsson Märta Birgit Nilsson (17 May 1918 – 25 December 2005) was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano. Although she sang a wide répertoire of operatic and vocal works, Nilsson was best known for her performances in the operas of Richard Wagner a ...

* 1952: Leon Björker * 1946:

Set Svanholm Set Svanholm (2 September 1904 – 4 October 1964) was a Swedish operatic tenor, considered the leading Tristan and Siegfried of the first decade following World War II. Life and career Svanholm began his musical career at the age of 17 as a pre ...

Sigurd Björling Sigurd Björling (2 November 1907 - 8 April 1983) was a Swedish operatic baritone. He made his debut as Alfio in ''Cavalleria Rusticana'' in 1935 at Royal Swedish Opera. He specialized in Wagnerian roles, among them Wotan, Telramund, Amfortas, Ha ...

* 1944:

Jussi Björling Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling ( , ; 5 February 19119 September 1960) was a Swedish tenor. One of the leading operatic singers of the 20th century, Björling appeared for many years at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and less frequentl ...

Kerstin Thorborg Kerstin Thorborg (19 May 1896 – 12 April 1970) was a Swedish opera singer. The Mezzo-soprano Kerstin Thorborg was one of the best dramatic Wagnerian singers in the two decades between 1930 and 1950. By all accounts, Thorborg was a magnificent act ...

* 1943:

Hjördis Schymberg Hjördis Gunborg Schymberg (April 24, 1909 – September 8, 2008) was a Swedish coloratura and lyric soprano active on the opera stage and in concert halls between 1934 and 1968. One of the leading singers of the Royal Swedish Opera, she was awar ...

, Joel Berglund * 1942:

Irma Björck Irma Lovisa Björck née Krook (1898–1993) was a Swedish mezzo-soprano opera and operetta singer. After training under Thekla Hofer and Gertrud Grubbstrom-Gronberg, with a year at the Royal Swedish Opera School, she made her début in 1925 at ...

, Einar Beyron * 1941: Helga Görlin * 1940: Brita Hertzberg-Beyron * 1936: Karin Maria Branzell-Reinshagen, Gertrud Pålson-Wettergren * 1933: Martin Öhman * 1929: Åke Wallgren,

David Stockman David Alan Stockman (born November 10, 1946) is an American politician and former businessman who was a Republican U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan (1977–1981) and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (1981–1985) ...

* 1928: Marianne Mörner * 1925:

Nanny Larsén-Todsen Nanny Larsén-Todsen (2 August 1884 – 26 May 1982) was a Swedish soprano, renowned for her performances in works by Richard Wagner and counted as one of the most notable Wagnerian sopranos of the 20th-century, from the generation before Frida Le ...

* 1923:

Julia Claussen Julia Claussen (11 June 1879 – 1 May 1941) was a Swedish mezzo-soprano. Early life and education Claussen was born on 11 June 1879 in Stockholm, Sweden. She was educated at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in that city; she also studied ...

* 1911: Sigrid Arnoldson-Fischof * 1909: Signe Rappe-Weldén,

John Forsell Carl Johan Jacob Forsell (6 November 1868 – 30 May 1941), known as John Forsell, was a prominent Swedish baritone, opera administrator and teacher of voice. He was the leading baritone of the Royal Swedish Opera (RSO) from 1896–1918, ...

* 1906: Arvid Ödmann

19th century

* 1886: Mathilda Grabow * 1854:

Louise Michaëli Louise Charlotte Helene Michaëli, née ''Michal'' (17 May 1830 – 23 February 1875), was a Swedish opera singer. Michaëli made her debut at the Royal Swedish Opera in 1849. She studied under Julius Günther at the Opera in Stockholm and unde ...

* 1847:

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 ...

* 1837:

Mathilda Gelhaar ''Mathilda'' Fredrika Gelhaar (née Ficker; 3 September 1814 in Stockholm – 24 April 1889) was a Swedish opera singer. She was also appointed official singer of the royal court. Mathilda Gelhaar was the daughter of Christian Fredrik Ficker, ...

* 1837:

Anna Sofia Sevelin Anna Sofia Sevelin née Thunberg (23 July 1790 – 25 February 1871) was a Swedish opera singer (alto). She was a '' Hovsångare'' and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts. Life Anna Sofia Sevelin was the daughter of the church musicia ...

* 1837:

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'' ...

* 1834:

Mathilda Berwald Mathilda Charlotta Berwald, née ''Cohen (surname), Cohn'' (9 March 1798 in Helsinki in Finland – 3 May 1877 in Stockholm),svar.ra.seHedvig Eleonora döda/ref> was a Finnish and Swedish people, Swedish concert singer. She was later appointed offi ...

* 1831:

Isak Albert Berg Isak Albert Berg (22 September 1803, Stockholm - 1 December 1886), was a Swedish opera tenor, composer and singing pedagogue. He was a ''Hovsångare'' and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music (1831). Isak Albert Berg graduated from Upp ...

* 1815: Jeanette Wässelius

18th century

* 1788:

Franziska Stading Sofia ''Franziska'' Stading (1763 – 8 February 1836) was a Swedish opera singer of German origin. She is referred to as one of the more notable opera singers in Sweden during the Gustavian era. She was a ''Hovsångare'' and member of the ...

* 1787:

Kristofer Kristian Karsten Christoffer Christian (or ''Kristofer Kristian'') Karsten (9 September 1756 – 6 August 1827) was a Swedish opera singer. He was the maternal grandfather of the ballerina Marie Taglioni. Life Born in Ystad, he was discovered by que ...

* 1773:

Lovisa Augusti Lovisa Sofia Augusti (born Ester Salomon; 1751 or 1756 – 25 June 1790) was a Swedish opera singer (soprano). She was regarded as one of the most noted opera singers of the Royal Swedish Opera during the Gustavian era. She was appointed ''Hovs ...

* 1773:

References

* Nyström, Pia; Kyhlberg-Boström, Anna; Elmquist Anne-Marie: ''Kungl. Musikaliska akademien: matrikel 1771-1995'', Kungliga Musikaliska Akademien, Stockholm 1996, Kungl. Musikaliska akademiens skriftserie, 84. ISSN 0347-5158. . Libris 7749167. * Moberg, Carl-Allan; Sundström, Einar; Morin, Gösta: ''Sohlmans musiklexikon: nordiskt och allmänt uppslagsverk för tonkonst, musikliv och dans''. 2, Ehlers-Ingressa, Sohlman, Stockholm 1950 (swe). Libris 42147. * Åström, Kenneth; Engström, Christer; Marklund, Kari: ''Nationalencyklopedin: ett uppslagsverk på vetenskaplig grund utarbetat på initiativ av Statens kulturråd''. Bd 9, im-Issk Bra böcker, Höganäs 1992 (swe). Libris 8211193. * Leif Jonsson; Ann-Marie Nilsson & Greger Andersson: ''Musiken i Sverige. Från forntiden till stormaktstidens slut 1720'' (Music in Sweden. From Ancient times to the end of Empire) (Swedish) {{DEFAULTSORT:Hovsangare Swedish titles 1773 in Sweden category:Swedish music

Named

21st century

20th century

19th century

18th century

See also

References