Maria Silfvan
Encyclopedia
Maria Elisabeth Silfvan, as married Lempke and then Westerlund, in Swedish called Maria Sylvan, (25 March 1802 in Turku
- 10 September 1865 in Oulu
), was a Finnish actor
, among the first professional native actors in Finland
.
and was to become one of the most known native actors in Finland in the first half of the 19th century, and could be regarded as Finland's first dramatic prima donna. In Finland, there was no real theatres and no native actors in the beginning of the 19th century; theatre was played by travelling Swedish theatre troupes touring the country. Between 1813 and 1827, the first theatre was run in Turku by the troupe of K.G. Bonnevier
, who had attained a permission from the Russian emperor, and built a simple theatre house in the city. She was discovered when selling tickets and candy
to the visitors of the theatre, Silfvan was hired in this troupe, and was seen as a natural dramatic talent. In 1825, she played the leading part in Friedrich Schiller
's Mary Stuart (play) opposite Inga Åberg
as Elizabeth Tudor.
In 1825, she married the actor Evert Lempke and with him employed at the troupes of A.P. Berggren and then K.V. Westerlund. When she married Westerlund in 1827, Lempke gave her a divorce
only with the condition that he was given an employment in the troupe for life, a condition which he was granted. After touring in Sweden, she spent her career touring in most cities in Finland. She is described as a beauty with a warm and intelligent way of acting. Among her parts were: Johanna af Montfaucon by Kotzebue, Ophelia in "Hamlet
", Emma von Falkenstein in "Korsfararne" (Crusaders) by Kotzebue and Siri Brahe in Siri Brahe och Johan Gyllnstierna by Gustav III of Sweden
. H. N. Pinello said about her: "I the history of the spritual nurture of Finland she will be remembered as a child of the people who, with curriage, will and restless work dedicated herself to the art of te stage, so neglected in her country by her contemporarys".
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
- 10 September 1865 in Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
), was a Finnish actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, among the first professional native actors in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Biography
Maria Silfvan was born in TurkuTurku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
and was to become one of the most known native actors in Finland in the first half of the 19th century, and could be regarded as Finland's first dramatic prima donna. In Finland, there was no real theatres and no native actors in the beginning of the 19th century; theatre was played by travelling Swedish theatre troupes touring the country. Between 1813 and 1827, the first theatre was run in Turku by the troupe of K.G. Bonnevier
Karl Gustav Bonuvier
Karl Gustav Bonuvier, , was a Swedish actor and theatre director, active in Sweden and Finland. He is remembered for having founded the first theatre house in Finland.- Biography :...
, who had attained a permission from the Russian emperor, and built a simple theatre house in the city. She was discovered when selling tickets and candy
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
to the visitors of the theatre, Silfvan was hired in this troupe, and was seen as a natural dramatic talent. In 1825, she played the leading part in Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
's Mary Stuart (play) opposite Inga Åberg
Inga Åberg
Inga Åberg was a Swedish actress and opera singer, one of the most popular and well known actors of her time in Sweden...
as Elizabeth Tudor.
In 1825, she married the actor Evert Lempke and with him employed at the troupes of A.P. Berggren and then K.V. Westerlund. When she married Westerlund in 1827, Lempke gave her a divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
only with the condition that he was given an employment in the troupe for life, a condition which he was granted. After touring in Sweden, she spent her career touring in most cities in Finland. She is described as a beauty with a warm and intelligent way of acting. Among her parts were: Johanna af Montfaucon by Kotzebue, Ophelia in "Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
", Emma von Falkenstein in "Korsfararne" (Crusaders) by Kotzebue and Siri Brahe in Siri Brahe och Johan Gyllnstierna 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....
. H. N. Pinello said about her: "I the history of the spritual nurture of Finland she will be remembered as a child of the people who, with curriage, will and restless work dedicated herself to the art of te stage, so neglected in her country by her contemporarys".