Hedvig Wigert
Encyclopedia
Hedvig Christina Wigert (February 1748 – 4 January 1780) was a Swedish
opera singer. She belonged to the famous pioneer group of performers of the Royal Swedish Opera.
Hedvig Falk belonged to the first group of singers hired at the foundation of the Royal Swedish Opera
in Bollhuset
in 1773. Just as the great Elisabeth Olin
, she was by then a singer and well-known for her musical talent, called: "one for her musical talent already well-known female", and Gustav III
wanted her for the part of the goddess Doris in the opening grand opera Thetis och Pélée (an opera in Swedish composed by Francesco Uttini
with words by Johan Wellander) at the inauguration of the new Opera.
The employment of Wigert illustrates social and gender-related issues; there was an initial difficulty in getting female singers because the profession had a bad reputation, and Wigert also represents the fact that people from the upper-classes participated in the Opera project of the king; similar to the case of Elisabeth Olin, Wigert was a member of the upper-classes, and though she herself was willing to participate, her employment was delayed by the disapproval of "Two old powder-witches" in her family; eventually, she was given a contract which stipulated that she would be allowed to resign whenever her family wished her to, as long as she participated in the inauguration performance.
After Doris in Thetis och Pélée, in the inauguration performance of the Opera 18 January 1773, (where she played opposite Carl Stenborg
(Pélée), Elisabeth Olin (Thetis), Lars Lalin (Jupiter
), Anders Nordén (Neptune
), Nils Gustav Stenborg (Mercury
), Betty Olin (Amor
) and Hans Björkman and Johan Filip Lising), she played "many demanding parts"; she also performed some theatre parts, during a period when the Opera offered this. Her best remembered part was the title role of Mérope by Voltaire
in the 1777-78 season after her marriage, where according to the papers, she "was given lively approval" by the audience. Other roles was Corinna in Acis and Galathea by Händel
, and Euridyce in Oprpheus by Glück. She was described as unanimously admired, with a "noble" and versatile way of acting.
She married the cashier Gustaf Wigert in 1776.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
opera singer. She belonged to the famous pioneer group of performers of the Royal Swedish Opera.
Hedvig Falk belonged to the first group of singers hired at the foundation of the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
in Bollhuset
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 1773. Just as the great Elisabeth Olin
Elisabeth Olin
Elisabeth Olin was a Swedish opera singer and a music composer. She is referred to as the first Swedish Opera prima donna. She was a court-singer . She was the first female member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music...
, she was by then a singer and well-known for her musical talent, called: "one for her musical talent already well-known female", and Gustav III
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
wanted her for the part of the goddess Doris in the opening grand opera Thetis och Pélée (an opera in Swedish composed by Francesco Uttini
Francesco Uttini
Francesco Antonio Baldassare Uttini was an Italian composer and conductor who was active mostly in Sweden....
with words by Johan Wellander) at the inauguration of the new Opera.
The employment of Wigert illustrates social and gender-related issues; there was an initial difficulty in getting female singers because the profession had a bad reputation, and Wigert also represents the fact that people from the upper-classes participated in the Opera project of the king; similar to the case of Elisabeth Olin, Wigert was a member of the upper-classes, and though she herself was willing to participate, her employment was delayed by the disapproval of "Two old powder-witches" in her family; eventually, she was given a contract which stipulated that she would be allowed to resign whenever her family wished her to, as long as she participated in the inauguration performance.
After Doris in Thetis och Pélée, in the inauguration performance of the Opera 18 January 1773, (where she played opposite Carl Stenborg
Carl Stenborg
Carl Stenborg was a Swedish opera singer, actor, composer and theatre director. He is considered the first great male opera singer in Sweden and one of the pioneers of the Royal Swedish Opera.- Biography :...
(Pélée), Elisabeth Olin (Thetis), Lars Lalin (Jupiter
Jupiter (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
), Anders Nordén (Neptune
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet from the Sun in the Solar System. Named for the Roman god of the sea, it is the fourth-largest planet by diameter and the third largest by mass. Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth and is slightly more massive than its near-twin Uranus, which is 15 times...
), Nils Gustav Stenborg (Mercury
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
), Betty Olin (Amor
Amor
Amor may refer to:*Cupid, the Roman god of love also known by his Latin name Amor*Eros, the Greek god of love also known as Amor*The land of the ancient Amorites, also known as Amurru*1221 Amor, an asteroid...
) and Hans Björkman and Johan Filip Lising), she played "many demanding parts"; she also performed some theatre parts, during a period when the Opera offered this. Her best remembered part was the title role of Mérope by Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
in the 1777-78 season after her marriage, where according to the papers, she "was given lively approval" by the audience. Other roles was Corinna in Acis and Galathea by Händel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
, and Euridyce in Oprpheus by Glück. She was described as unanimously admired, with a "noble" and versatile way of acting.
She married the cashier Gustaf Wigert in 1776.