Kungliga Hovkapellet
Encyclopedia
Kungliga Hovkapellet is a Swedish orchestra
and was located at the Royal Court in Sweden's capital Stockholm
. It was first recorded in 1526. Since 1773 it is part of the Royal Swedish Opera
's company.
Kungliga Hovkapellet is one of the oldest active orchestras in the world. Originally the orchestra of the royal Swedish court, it is first recorded in the royal account books from 1526. The Orchestra originally consisted of both musicians and singers. It had only male members until 1727, when Sophia Schröder
and Judith Fischer were employed as a vocalists; in the 1850s, the harpsichord
player Marie Pauline Åhman
became the first female instrumentalist. It had a golden age under the leadership of several members of the Düben
family during the 17th century. In the 18th century, its directors included Johan Helmich Roman
and Francesco Uttini
. From 1731, public concert
s were performed at Riddarhuset in Stockholm
. Since 1773, when the Royal Swedish Opera
was founded by Gustav III of Sweden
, the Kungliga Hovkapellet has been part of the opera's company.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
and was located at the Royal Court in Sweden's capital 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...
. It was first recorded in 1526. Since 1773 it is part of the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
's company.
Kungliga Hovkapellet is one of the oldest active orchestras in the world. Originally the orchestra of the royal Swedish court, it is first recorded in the royal account books from 1526. The Orchestra originally consisted of both musicians and singers. It had only male members until 1727, when Sophia Schröder
Sophia Schröder
Sophia Schröder was a Swedish soprano , active as a concert vocalist at the royal orchestra, the Kungliga Hovkapellet, at the royal Swedish court, the first woman to have been officially given such a position.Sophia Schröder was born in Stockholm to German immigrants...
and Judith Fischer were employed as a vocalists; in the 1850s, the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
player Marie Pauline Åhman
Marie Pauline Åhman
Marie Pauline Åhman, née Landby , was a Swedish harpsichordist. She is known as a the first known female musician employed at the Royal Swedish Chapell orhcestra Kungliga Hovkapellet....
became the first female instrumentalist. It had a golden age under the leadership of several members of the Düben
Gustaf Düben
Gustaf Düben was a Swedish organist and composer.Düben was born and died in Stockholm. In 1663, he succeeded his father, the German-born Andreas Düben as both hovkapellmästare, director of the Royal Swedish Court Orchestra, and organist of the German St Gertrud Church in Stockholm.Father of...
family during the 17th century. In the 18th century, its directors included Johan Helmich Roman
Johan Helmich Roman
Johan Helmich Roman was a Swedish Baroque composer. He has been called "the father of Swedish music" or "the Swedish Handel."-Life:...
and Francesco Uttini
Francesco Uttini
Francesco Antonio Baldassare Uttini was an Italian composer and conductor who was active mostly in Sweden....
. From 1731, public 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 were performed at Riddarhuset 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...
. Since 1773, when the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
was founded by Gustav III of Sweden
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....
, the Kungliga Hovkapellet has been part of the opera's company.