Sophie Stebnowska
Encyclopedia
Mariane Theresia Sophie Stebnowska (or Maria Sofia Stempkosta; 1753 – 16 February 1848), was a Polish
opera singer, actor and harpist. She was among the great talents of the Royal Swedish Opera
in Stockholm
during the reign of King Gustav III of Sweden
. She was married to the opera singer Christoffer Christian Karsten
and was also the maternal grandmother ot the world famous ballet dancer Marie Taglioni
.
in the company of the British ambassador to Sweden, Sir Thomas Wroughton, with whom she was in an relationship at the time
She was married in 1781 to the Swedish opera singer Christoffer Christian Karsten
. In December 1782, she was appointed premier actress and singer of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm
, a position she kept for 21 years. At the wedding, the couple were given the villa Canton at Drottningholm
. Though she did not reach the rank of prima donna
, she was considered among the opera's most valuable members, just behind the prima donnas Elisabeth Olin
and then Caroline Frederikke Müller
during the 1780s and 1790s.
She was also active as a musician. In March, 1795, she participated in a public concert in Stockholm arranged by Karsten where she played the harp
, while her husband and Marie Louise Marcadet
sang; first, each three of them performed in their fields by themselves, then jointly. By 1803, she was no longer premier actress, and in 1806, she and her husband left their positions after the temporary closure of the opera.
Gustav Löwenhielm mentions her importance in the 19th century, during a discussion about the employment of foreign artists, when he points out that several of the artists during the foundation of the Royal Swedish Opera and the Royal Dramatic Theatre had been foreigners:
She had two daughters: Sophie Hedvig Karsten
, premier dancer at the opera in 1805-1806 and mother of the ballerina Marie Taglioni; and Elisabeth Charlotta Karsten
, who married a Russian and became a painter.
Sophie Stebnowska Karsten died at Drottningholm, aged 95.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
opera singer, actor and harpist. She was among the great talents of the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
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...
during the reign of King 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....
. She was married to the opera singer Christoffer Christian Karsten
Christoffer Christian Karsten
Christoffer Christian Karsten was a Swedish opera singer, sometimes called the greatest male opera singer in Swedish history...
and was also the maternal grandmother ot the world famous ballet dancer Marie Taglioni
Marie Taglioni
Marie Taglioni was a famous Italian/Swedish ballerina of the Romantic ballet era, a central figure in the history of European dance.-Biography:...
.
Biography and career
Sophie Stebnowska, noted as "an excellent harp player", arrived in Sweden from ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in the company of the British ambassador to Sweden, Sir Thomas Wroughton, with whom she was in an relationship at the time
She was married in 1781 to the Swedish opera singer Christoffer Christian Karsten
Christoffer Christian Karsten
Christoffer Christian Karsten was a Swedish opera singer, sometimes called the greatest male opera singer in Swedish history...
. In December 1782, she was appointed premier actress and singer of the Royal Swedish Opera 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...
, a position she kept for 21 years. At the wedding, the couple were given the villa Canton at Drottningholm
Drottningholm
Drottningholm, literally "Queen's Islet", is a locality situated in Ekerö Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden, with 410 inhabitants in 2005....
. Though she did not reach the rank of prima donna
Prima donna
Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano...
, she was considered among the opera's most valuable members, just behind the prima donnas 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...
and then Caroline Frederikke Müller
Caroline Frederikke Müller
Caroline Frederikke Müller , also known as Caroline Walther, was a Danish and later naturalized Swedish singer , dancer and actor and principal of the theatre academy Dramatens elevskola...
during the 1780s and 1790s.
She was also active as a musician. In March, 1795, she participated in a public concert in Stockholm arranged by Karsten where she played the harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
, while her husband and Marie Louise Marcadet
Marie Louise Marcadet
Marie Louise Marcadet was a Swedish opera singer and a dramatic stage actor. She was active in both the Royal Swedish Opera, and at the Royal Dramatic Theatre. She is regarded as the greatest tragedienne in Sweden during the 1780s decade, before the first noted native tragedienne, Maria Franck...
sang; first, each three of them performed in their fields by themselves, then jointly. By 1803, she was no longer premier actress, and in 1806, she and her husband left their positions after the temporary closure of the opera.
Gustav Löwenhielm mentions her importance in the 19th century, during a discussion about the employment of foreign artists, when he points out that several of the artists during the foundation of the Royal Swedish Opera and the Royal Dramatic Theatre had been foreigners:
"Is it impossible to engage Mr Berg and Miss Schoultz? - Generally, I can not see how we can elude the employment of halfgrown foreigners. Gustav III's SwedishSwedenSweden , 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....
national theatre started with the DanishDenmarkDenmark 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...
Mrs MüllerCaroline Frederikke MüllerCaroline Frederikke Müller , also known as Caroline Walther, was a Danish and later naturalized Swedish singer , dancer and actor and principal of the theatre academy Dramatens elevskola...
, the FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Mrs MarcadetMarie Louise MarcadetMarie Louise Marcadet was a Swedish opera singer and a dramatic stage actor. She was active in both the Royal Swedish Opera, and at the Royal Dramatic Theatre. She is regarded as the greatest tragedienne in Sweden during the 1780s decade, before the first noted native tragedienne, Maria Franck...
, the GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Mamsell StadingFranziska StadingSofia "Franziska" Stading was a opera singer and actor; originally from Germany, she became one of the most popular stars in Sweden in the 18th century...
, the German Mrs AugustiLovisa AugustiLovisa Sofia Augusti, , was a Swedish opera singer. She was a court singer and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.- Biography :...
and the PolishPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Mrs Karsten. These ladies occupied our stage and kept it from the foundation of the opera and the premature departure of Mrs OlinElisabeth OlinElisabeth 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...
in the beginning of the 1780s, until the year of 1800, when the school of Mrs DesguillonsAnne Marie Milan DesguillonsAnne Marie Milan Desguillons was a French stage actress, active in Sweden. She was also active as an instructor and director of the theatre school Dramatens elevskola jointly with her spouse, and as such had a great influence over the development of the Swedish theatre.-Biography and career:Anne...
had created Mamsell WässeliaJeanette WässeliusMarie Jeanette Wässelius, commonly known as Wässelia or Mamsell Wässelia, , was a Swedish opera singer, court singer and actress, the leading prima donna of the Swedish Opera during the Napoleonic age in the first decades of the 19th century and sister of the international opera star Justina Casagli...
cum celeris."
She had two daughters: Sophie Hedvig Karsten
Sophie Karsten
Hedvig Sophie Karsten was a Swedish ballerina and artist .Born to opera singers Christoffer Christian Karsten and Sophie Stebnowska, she was the sister of painter Elisabeth Charlotta Karsten....
, premier dancer at the opera in 1805-1806 and mother of the ballerina Marie Taglioni; and Elisabeth Charlotta Karsten
Elisabeth Charlotta Karsten
Elisabeth Charlotta Karsten, married surname Kachanoff, , was a Swedish painter.She was the daughter of Kristofer Kristian Karsten and Sophie Stebnowska and sister of Sophie Karsten. She was the student of Carl Johan Fahlcrantz. Karsten was a landscape painter and copied in oil from the work, among...
, who married a Russian and became a painter.
Sophie Stebnowska Karsten died at Drottningholm, aged 95.