Brita Sophia De la Gardie
Encyclopedia
Brita Sophia De la Gardie (1713–1797) was a Swedish noble
and amateur actress. She was a central member of the cultural life in Stockholm
in her time. She played a part in the history of Swedish theatre. She was the maternal aunt of Count Axel von Fersen the Younger.
and the political salonist
Hedvig Catharina Lillie. She was the sister-in-law to the scientist Eva Ekeblad
. During the 1720s and 1730s, amateur theatre
was immensely popular in Stockholm and at the royal court. At the time, there were no Swedish language theatre in the capital; only foreign theatre companies performed professionally at the national stage of the Bollhuset Theatre
. In 1732, Dom Japhlet d'Arménie by Scarron was performed at the stage of Bollhuset by the noble amateur troupe of Count Carl Gustaf Tessin
and Countess Ulla Tessin
, who also participated themselves. The most famous one of these amateur troupe was the troupe commonly known as Greve De la Gardies komedianter (The Comedians of Count De la Gardie) (active in 1734-1737), managed by the theatre-interested De la Gardie family.
The De la Gardie amateur theatre performed in the palace Torstensonska huset (later known as now Arvfurstens palats
) in the palace Lefebuerska huset and, occasionally, on the stage of Bollhuset Theatre, led by Höpken, between 1734 and 1737. Höpken had returned from Paris in 1734 and organized the troupe to perform more seriously and regularly than the other troupes. Brita Sophia De la Gardie was the lead female actor and star of this troupe. As such, she was well known in the city and a center of its cultural life. Historians have argued whether this troupe performed for the public and can be counted as more than an amateur troupe. According to memoir
s, "The whole city" was present at the performances, but the upper-class memoirists may likely have referred to people from their own class. The plays may have been half public, with a symbolic sum paid by the audience, who likely came only from the city's upper-classes.
These amateur troupes created an enthusiasm for native speaking theatre which prepared for the foundation of the first Swedish language national theatre at Bollhuset in 1737. The foundation of the national theatre had been laid by the performance of a student theatre troupe. When the first Swedish national theatre opened in 1737, a suggestion was made (serious or not) to make Brita Sophia an honorary consultant in the theatre management, with a reserved box at the theatre. This never came about. When the first professional actresses were hired to the theatre, it was jokingly suggested that another of the amateur actresses at the De la Gardie troupe, Augusta Törnflycht, should be asked to seek the position. One of the first professional Swedish actresses jointly with Beata Sabina Straas
in the theatre troupe on the new national theatre, "Miss Wijkman" are suggested to have been Magdalena Wickman, earlier an employee at the De la Gardie household.
In 1738 Brita Sophia became a member in the board of a musical academy who arranged concert
s in the palace Lefebuerska huset. After the death of her father in 1741, Brita Sophia and her mother moved to Paris in France, where they converted to Catholicism
. After her mother's death in 1745, she entered an convent
and became a nun
. She inherited Ekesjö manor in Sweden, but as she had not received royal consent to convert and as she remained in France, her property was sold by her siblings. She died in Paris.
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
and amateur actress. She was a central member of the cultural life in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in her time. She played a part in the history of Swedish theatre. She was the maternal aunt of Count Axel von Fersen the Younger.
Biography
Brita Sophia De La Gardie was born to the politician Count Magnus Julius De la GardieMagnus Julius De la Gardie
Magnus Julius De la Gardie , son of Axel Julius De la Gardie, was a Swedish general and statesman, member of the Swedish Hats Party....
and the political salonist
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
Hedvig Catharina Lillie. She was the sister-in-law to the scientist Eva Ekeblad
Eva Ekeblad
Eva Ekeblad , née Eva De la Gardie, was a Swedish agronomist, scientist, Salonist and noble . Her most known discovery was to make flour and alcohol out of potatoes...
. During the 1720s and 1730s, amateur theatre
Amateur theatre
Amateur theatre is theatre performed by amateur actors. These actors are not typically members of Actors' Equity groups or Actors' Unions as these organizations exist to protect the professional industry and therefore discourage their members from appearing with companies which are not a signatory...
was immensely popular in Stockholm and at the royal court. At the time, there were no Swedish language theatre in the capital; only foreign theatre companies performed professionally at the national stage of the Bollhuset Theatre
Bollhuset
Bollhuset, also called ', ', and ' at various times, was the name of the first theater in Stockholm, Sweden; it was the first Swedish theater and the first real theater building in the whole of Scandinavia. The name "" means "The Ball House", and it was built in 1627 for ball sports and used in...
. In 1732, Dom Japhlet d'Arménie by Scarron was performed at the stage of Bollhuset by the noble amateur troupe of Count Carl Gustaf Tessin
Carl Gustaf Tessin
Count Carl Gustaf Tessin was a Swedish politician and son of architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and Hedvig Eleonora Stenbock.-Life:Carl Gustaf Tessin was born in Stockholm...
and Countess Ulla Tessin
Ulla Tessin
Ulrika Lovisa Tessin, known as Ulla Tessin, née Sparre , was a Swedish lady in waiting, letter writer, dilettant artist and noble...
, who also participated themselves. The most famous one of these amateur troupe was the troupe commonly known as Greve De la Gardies komedianter (The Comedians of Count De la Gardie) (active in 1734-1737), managed by the theatre-interested De la Gardie family.
The De la Gardie amateur theatre performed in the palace Torstensonska huset (later known as now Arvfurstens palats
Arvfurstens palats
Arvfurstens palats is a palace located at Gustav Adolfs Torg in central Stockholm.Designed by Erik Palmstedt, the palace was originally the private residence of Princess Sophia Albertina. It was built 1783-1794 and declared a historical monument in 1935 and subsequently restored by Ivar Tengbom...
) in the palace Lefebuerska huset and, occasionally, on the stage of Bollhuset Theatre, led by Höpken, between 1734 and 1737. Höpken had returned from Paris in 1734 and organized the troupe to perform more seriously and regularly than the other troupes. Brita Sophia De la Gardie was the lead female actor and star of this troupe. As such, she was well known in the city and a center of its cultural life. Historians have argued whether this troupe performed for the public and can be counted as more than an amateur troupe. According to memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
s, "The whole city" was present at the performances, but the upper-class memoirists may likely have referred to people from their own class. The plays may have been half public, with a symbolic sum paid by the audience, who likely came only from the city's upper-classes.
These amateur troupes created an enthusiasm for native speaking theatre which prepared for the foundation of the first Swedish language national theatre at Bollhuset in 1737. The foundation of the national theatre had been laid by the performance of a student theatre troupe. When the first Swedish national theatre opened in 1737, a suggestion was made (serious or not) to make Brita Sophia an honorary consultant in the theatre management, with a reserved box at the theatre. This never came about. When the first professional actresses were hired to the theatre, it was jokingly suggested that another of the amateur actresses at the De la Gardie troupe, Augusta Törnflycht, should be asked to seek the position. One of the first professional Swedish actresses jointly with Beata Sabina Straas
Beata Sabina Straas
Beata Sabina Straas , known also as Madame Åberg following her marriage, was the first professional native actress in Sweden and a member of the first pioneer troupe in the first Swedish national theatre of 1737.-Life and career:When the first national theatre was founded in the old premises at...
in the theatre troupe on the new national theatre, "Miss Wijkman" are suggested to have been Magdalena Wickman, earlier an employee at the De la Gardie household.
In 1738 Brita Sophia became a member in the board of a musical academy who arranged concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s in the palace Lefebuerska huset. After the death of her father in 1741, Brita Sophia and her mother moved to Paris in France, where they converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
. After her mother's death in 1745, she entered an convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
and became a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
. She inherited Ekesjö manor in Sweden, but as she had not received royal consent to convert and as she remained in France, her property was sold by her siblings. She died in Paris.