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 Western 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 lib ...
) 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 King Adolf Frederick and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Sweden.
Gustav was a vocal opponent of what he s ...
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 ...
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 and Joseph Chabanceau de La Barre were singers at the court of
Queen Christina of Sweden
Christina (; 18 December O.S. 8 December">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Old Style and New Style dates">O.S. 8 December1626 – 19 April 1689), a member of the House of Vasa, was Monarchy of Sweden, Queen of Sweden from ...
.
Named
21st century
* 2021:
Ann Hallenberg,
John Lundgren
* 2018:
Malin Byström,
Katarina Karnéus,
Daniel Johansson.
* 2013:
Elin Rombo,
Michael Weinius
* 2010:
Anna Larsson,
Malena Ernman
Sara Magdalena Ernman (born 4 November 1970), professionally known as Malena Ernman, is a Swedish mezzo-soprano opera singer. Besides operas and operettas, she has also performed chansons, cabaret, jazz, and appeared in musicals. She is a member ...
,
Miah Persson
* 2006:
Nina Stemme
Nina Maria Stemme (born Thöldte, 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 performances in ...
,
Hillevi Martinpelto
* 2004: Karl-Magnus Fredriksson,
Peter Mattei
* 2003:
Loa Falkman
* 2002: Helena Döse
* 2000:
Katarina Dalayman,
Ingrid Tobiasson
20th century
* 1999: Lena Nordin
* 1995:
Anne Sofie von Otter,
Birgitta Svendén
* 1994: Siv Wennberg
* 1992: Jerker Arvidson, Anita Soldh
* 1990: MariAnne Häggander, Björn Asker
* 1988: Britt Marie Aruhn, Elisabeth Erikson,
Gösta Winbergh
* 1985:
, Laila Andersson-Palme
* 1983: Sylvia Lindenstrand, Bengt Rundgren
* 1978: Arne Tyrén
* 1976:
Ragnar Ulfung,
Edith Thallaug,
Berit Lindholm
* 1973:
Ingvar Wixell,
Birgit Nordin-Arvidson, Carl-Axel Hallgren
* 1972:
Alice Babs
Hildur Alice Nilson (26 January 1924 – 11 February 2014), known by her stage name Alice Babs, was a Swedish singer. She worked in a wide number of genres – Swedish folklore, Elizabethan songs and opera. While she was best known internationall ...
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
* 1965:
Nicolai Gedda
* 1963:
Kerstin Meyer-Bexelius
* 1959:
Elisabeth Söderström-Olow
* 1955:
Birgit Nilsson
* 1952: Leon Björker
* 1946:
Set Svanholm,
Sigurd Björling
* 1944:
Jussi Björling,
Kerstin Thorborg
* 1943:
Hjördis Schymberg, Joel Berglund
* 1942:
Irma Björck, 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
* 1928: Marianne Mörner
* 1925:
Nanny Larsén-Todsen
* 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 at ...
* 1911:
Sigrid Arnoldson-Fischof
* 1909:
Signe Rappe-Weldén,
John Forsell
* 1906: Arvid Ödmann
19th century
* 1886:
Mathilda Grabow
* 1854:
Louise Michaëli
* 1847:
Jenny Lind
Johanna Maria Lind (Madame Goldschmidt) (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 ...
* 1837:
Mathilda Gelhaar
* 1837:
Anna Sofia Sevelin
* 1837:
Henriette Widerberg
* 1834:
Mathilda Berwald
* 1831:
Isak Albert Berg
* 1815:
Jeanette Wässelius
Marie Jeanette Wässelius (23 August 1784 – 5 December 1853) was a Swedish opera singer. She is referred to as the leading prima donna of the Royal Swedish Opera in the early 19th-century. She was a '' Hovsångare'' (1815) as well as an ...
18th century
* 1788:
Franziska Stading
* 1787:
Kristofer Kristian Karsten
* 1773:
Lovisa Augusti
* 1773:
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 ...
* 1773:
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 ...
See also
*
Sophia Schröder
Sophia Schröder (Stockholm, 1712 – 29 January 1750) was a 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 officially given su ...
*
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 ...
*
Litteris et Artibus
*
Kammersänger
Kammersänger (male; ) or Kammersängerin (female; ), abbreviated Ks. or KS, is a German Title of honor, honorific title for distinguished singers of opera and classical music. It literally means "chamber singer". Historically, the title was besto ...
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. . . 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 establishments in Sweden
Music of Sweden