Caroline Müller (opera singer)

Infobox actor
name = Caroline Müller


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Caroline Frederikke Halle
birthdate = 1755
location = Denmark
deathdate = 1826 (aged c. 71 years)
deathplace = Sweden
height =
othername = Caroline Halle, Caroline Walther
homepage =
spouse = Thomas Christian Walther, Christian Freidrich Müller

Caroline Frederikke Müller, née Halle, also known as Caroline Walther, (1755–1826), was a Danish and later naturalized Swedish singer (Mezzosoprano), dancer and actor and headmaster of the theatre academy Dramatens elevskola. She was born as Caroline Halle, was known in Denmark as Caroline Walther (after her first marriage in 1774), and in Sweden as Caroline Müller (after her second marriage in 1780).

Background and career in Denmark

Born an illegitimate child of her mother, her stepfather Thomas Jespersen, who was employed as a machinist at the Royal Danish Theatre, got her accepted as a student there. At the age of six, she danced at the Royal Danish Theatre ballet; she debuted as an actress in 1768, and in 1769, she was employed as a singer and actress and became one of the most celebrated of her kind in Denmark. During the 1770s, she was considered by some to be one of the greatest talents within Danish opera. She was very successful in 1771, and in the following years she played 124 parts, in everything from romantic drama to tragedy; she followed in the footsteps of her mentor, the versatile primadonna Lisbeth Cathrine Amalie Rose. In 1773 she left her mother, who had abused her, and, in 1774, she married the music instructor and secretary Thomas Walther; however, they separated in 1775 when he moved abroad.

Career in exile

In 1780, she herself left Denmark, and moved to Sweden; she wished to gain a divorce so that she could re-marry, but had not been permitted to by the authorities in Denmark - this is reported to be as a result of an intrigue planned by her great rival, Catharine Frydendahl. In 1777, General von Eickstedt became a part of the management of the opera, and it is said that he worked to benefit the career of his mistress Frydendahl, prevented that Caroline Frederikke Müller's lover became employed at the opera, and had him exiled.

Müller therefore went to Sweden with her lover, the German musician Christian Friedrich Müller, where she got her divorce and then married him (she is reported to have left Denmark dressed as a man). She then joined the Royal Swedish Opera in Bollhuset in Stockholm, where she spent the rest of her career. In 1782, as she was about to play a main part in the opening performance of the newly-built house of the Royal Swedish Opera, she left the country, then stayed a year in London, all to escape her creditors; in England, she became the first Danish opera singer to perform abroad.

Career in Sweden

In 1783, although she had previously broken her contract, King Gustav III of Sweden offered her immunity and a raised salary, and she returned to her position at the Swedish opera. When Elisabeth Olin retired, Müller replaced her as the most celebrated female singer in Sweden; her husband, Christian Fredidrich Müller, became a court musician and she herself became the court singer of King Gustav and played leading parts in his many operas.

She played Alceste in "Alceste" by Gluck with Carl Stenborg and Kristofer Kristian Karsten (season 1780–1781); Anguelique in "Roland" by Quinault with Carl Stenborg and Kristofer Kristian Karsten (1781–1782); Iphigenie in "Iphigenie på Tauris" by Glück with Carl Stenborg and Kristofer Kristian Karsten; Christina Gyllenstierna in "Gustaf Vasa" by Nauman with Carl Stenborg and Kristofer Kristian Karsten (1785–1786); Armide in "Armide" by Quinault with Carl Stenborg and Kristofer Kristian Karsten (1786–1787); Christina of Holstein-Gottorp in "Gustaf Adolf och Ebba Brahe" with Franziska Stading, Carl Stenborg and Kristofer Kristian Karsten (1787–1788); Prosper in "Azemia" av Dalayrac with Abraham de Broen and Kristofer Kristian Karsten (1792–1793); Aretea in "Alcides inräde in världen" by Haeffner with Carl Fredrik Fernstedt and Marie Louise Marcadet; Georgino in "Den stormiga aftonen" by Dalayrac with Abraham de Broen and Kjell Waltman; Josef in "De bägge Savojarderna" by Dalayrac with Kristofer Kristian Karsten and Marie Louise Marcadet (1793–1794); Malena in "De gamla friarna" by Dalayrac with Kjell Waltman, Carl Magnus Craelius, Maria Franck and Inga Åberg; Lisette in "Reanud d'Ast" by Dalayrac with Kristofer Kristian Karsten (1795–1796); Colombine in "Den talande tavlan" by Grétry with Carolina Kuhlman (1798–1799); and Dido in "Aeneas in Carthago" with Carl Stenborg and Kristofer Kristian Karsten (1799–1800).

She trained future singers and actors for the Swedish opera, and was inducted into the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1788. In 1791, she visited Denmark and was present at a performance given in honor of her mentor, Lisbeth Cathrine Amalie Rose.

She retired from the stage in 1806 at the temporary closure of the Opera. She made her last appearance in 1810, at the coronation of King Charles XIII of Sweden, playing her most popular part, Christina Gyllenstierna. In 1812, she succeeded Sofia Lovisa Gråå as instructor and principal of the students at the actors' school, Dramatens elevskola, a position she kept until 1815.

Caroline Müller was regarded as Sweden's leading opera prima donna after Elisabeth Olin, and was succeeded by Jeanette Wässelius after her retirement. She then became director of the theatre school during a significant period of expansion and development in its history.

ee also

* Dramatens elevskola
* Bollhuset

References

* [http://runeberg.org/sbh/b0157.html Biography 1] sv icon
* [http://www.kvinfo.dk/side/597/bio/1368/origin/170/ Biography 2] dk icon
*"Kungliga teaterns repertoar 1773–1973" sv icon
*Carin Österberg, "Svenska Kvinnor" sv icon

Persondata
NAME= Müller, Caroline
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Halle, Caroline Frederikke
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Danish and later Swedish singer (Mezzosoprano), dancer and actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 1755
PLACE OF BIRTH= Denmark
DATE OF DEATH= 1826 (age ca 71)
PLACE OF DEATH= Sweden