Anna Nielsen (1803-1856)
Encyclopedia
Anna Helena Dorothea Nielsen, née Brenöe, (September 4 1803 - July 20 1856), was a Danish stage actress and opera singer (mezzo-soprano
). She was one of the most famous female stage artists in Denmark
of her time.
Born in Copenhagen to the compass-maker
Peter Christian Brenøe and Olave Frederikke Caroline Leth. She was educated in a girl's school until her father was ruined, and was a member in the drama society there. She was also a student of a master of the chapell at the Royal Danish Theatre
. She was a tall and blue-eyed blonde. She was accepted as a student at the theatre, where she was given Johanne Rosing
as her mentor.
She debuted in the title role of Dyveke by Ole Johan Samsøe on the Royal Danish Theatre
in Copenhagen
in 1821, and made a great success. She was described as versatile, with a fine singing voice, vivid, and recommended for her natural, sensitive and poetic way of acting, her best interpretation were repressed but strong emotion. Initially much used for the leading roles of heroine, she eventually performed all sorts of parts. She was active on stage until her death. As was common in her time and place, she was active within both opera and theatre. She played heroine in both theatre and opera, often in the part of "Nordic maiden". She was famed for her parts in the work of Adam Oehlenschläger, and contributed to the breakthrough for the vaudevilles of J. L. Heiberg. Søren Kierkegaard
called her an interpreter of femininity. She was one of the strongest speakers in favour of a realistic way of acting at the theatre.
She was a mentor for many talents, such as for example Louise Phister
, and her private home was a center of the theatre world.
She was married in 1823 to the Norwegian violinist Frederik Thorkildsen Wexschall
, (separated in 1831) and in 1834 to the actor Peder Nielsen and had one daughter. The fact that she divorced her second spouse in order to marry another was considered scandalous.
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
). She was one of the most famous female stage artists in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
of her time.
Born in Copenhagen to the compass-maker
Compasssmith
A compasssmith is a person who makes and sells compasses. It is one of the few words in the English language to have three consecutive s's.The first compasssmiths were the ancient Chinese, who were the first to ever put to use the Earth's magnetic field; but not as a navigational aid, but rather as...
Peter Christian Brenøe and Olave Frederikke Caroline Leth. She was educated in a girl's school until her father was ruined, and was a member in the drama society there. She was also a student of a master of the chapell at the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
. She was a tall and blue-eyed blonde. She was accepted as a student at the theatre, where she was given Johanne Rosing
Johanne Rosing
Johanne Cathrine Rosing, née Olsen , was a Danish stage actress and ballet dancer, one of the most noted of the era.Born in a poor home as the daughter of an unemployed Norwegian bricklayer, she was a maid before she became a student of the French Ballet company at the court theatre and, in 1772,...
as her mentor.
She debuted in the title role of Dyveke by Ole Johan Samsøe on the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1821, and made a great success. She was described as versatile, with a fine singing voice, vivid, and recommended for her natural, sensitive and poetic way of acting, her best interpretation were repressed but strong emotion. Initially much used for the leading roles of heroine, she eventually performed all sorts of parts. She was active on stage until her death. As was common in her time and place, she was active within both opera and theatre. She played heroine in both theatre and opera, often in the part of "Nordic maiden". She was famed for her parts in the work of Adam Oehlenschläger, and contributed to the breakthrough for the vaudevilles of J. L. Heiberg. Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish Christian philosopher, theologian and religious author. He was a critic of idealist intellectuals and philosophers of his time, such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling and Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel...
called her an interpreter of femininity. She was one of the strongest speakers in favour of a realistic way of acting at the theatre.
She was a mentor for many talents, such as for example Louise Phister
Louise Phister
Louise Petrine Amalie Phister, née Petersen, was a Danish stage actress.Phister grew up in poverty; on her father's death, she applied to become a chorister at the Royal Danish Theatre. The theatre, discerning her talent for acting, instead enrolled her to study as an actress, and she became the...
, and her private home was a center of the theatre world.
She was married in 1823 to the Norwegian violinist Frederik Thorkildsen Wexschall
Frederik Thorkildsen Wexschall
Frederick Thorkildsen Wexschall was a Danish classic composer and soloist violin player for the Copenhagen Royal Orchestra...
, (separated in 1831) and in 1834 to the actor Peder Nielsen and had one daughter. The fact that she divorced her second spouse in order to marry another was considered scandalous.