Anna Nielsen (1803–1856)

Anna Helena Dorothea Nielsen, née Brenöe, (September 4, 1803 – July 20, 1856), was a Danish stage actress and opera singer (mezzo-soprano). She was one of the most famous female stage artists in Denmark of her time. She was a mentor for many talents, such as for example Louise Phister and her private home was a center of the theatre world.

Biography

Born in Copenhagen to the compass-maker Peter Christian Brenøe and Olave Frederikke Caroline Leth. She was educated in a girls' school until her father was ruined, and was a member in the drama society there. She was also a student of a master of the chapel at the Royal Danish Theatre. She was a tall and blue-eyed blonde. She was accepted as a student at the theatre, where she was given Johanne Rosing as her mentor.

She debuted in the title role of Dyveke by Ole Johan Samsøe [Wikidata] on the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen in 1821, and made a great success. She was described as versatile, with a fine singing voice, vivid, and recommended for her natural, sensitive and poetic way of acting, her best interpretation were repressed but strong emotion. Initially much used for the leading roles of heroine, she eventually performed all sorts of parts. She was active on stage until her death. As was common in her time and place, she was active within both opera and theatre. She played heroine in both theatre and opera, often in the part of "Nordic maiden". She was famed for her parts in the work of Adam Oehlenschläger, and contributed to the breakthrough for the vaudevilles of J. L. Heiberg. Søren Kierkegaard called her an interpreter of femininity. She was one of the strongest speakers in favour of a realistic way of acting at the theatre.

She was married in 1823 to the Norwegian violinist Frederik Thorkildsen Wexschall, (separated in 1831) and in 1834 to the actor Peder Nielsen and had one daughter. The fact that she divorced her second spouse in order to marry another was considered scandalous.

List of roles

1820s

1821 De lystige passagerer as Constance
1821 Dyveke as Dyveke
1821 Falsk undseelse as Emmy
1821 Nonnerne as Euphemia
1821 Ringen as Henriette von Darring
1822 Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
1822 Barselstuen as Stine Isenkræmmers
1822 Den politiske kandestøber as Raadsherreinde
1822 Herman Von Unna as Ida
1822 Medbejlerne as Nancy Ømling
1822 Ulysses von Ithacia as Juno
1823 Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
1823 Barselstuen as Stine Isenkræmmers
1823 Den politiske kandestøber as Raadsherreinde
1823 Det stille vand har den dybe grund as Baronesse von Holmbach, rig ung enke
1823 Dyveke as Dyveke, Christians elskede
1823 Nonnerne as Euphemia
1823 Ulysses von Ithacia as Juno
1824 Barselstuen as Stine Isenkræmmers
1824 De lystige passagerer as Constance
1824 De to dage as Constance
1824 De to poststationer as Angelique
1824 Hekseri as Terentia, Leanders fæstemø
1825 Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
1825 Barberen i Sevilla as Rosine
1825 Høstgildet as Anna
1826 Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
1826 Entreprenøren i knibe as Merline
1826 Ringen as Henriette von Darring
1826 Sovedrikken as Charlotte
1827 Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
1827 Barselstuen as Ingeborg Blytækkers
1827 De to poststationer as Angelique
1827 Gert Westphaler as Leonora
1828 Peters bryllup as Anna
1829 Bagtalelsens skole as Maria

1830s

1830 Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
1830 Lønkammeret as Cecile
1831 Balders død as Nanna
1831 Barselstuen as Ingeborg Blytækkers
1831 Pigen fra Mrienborg as Cathinka
1831 Ringen as Ubekendt
1832 Bagtalelsens skole as Maria
1833 Barselstuen as Frue
1833 Den sorte mand as Mistress, Johnsons kone
1834 Dyveke as Dyveke, Christians elskede
1834 Figaros giftermaal as Grevinden
1834 Niels Ebbesen af Nørreris as Jutta
1835 Barselstuen as Ingeborg Blytækkers
1835 Machbeth as Lady Macbeth
1835 Herman Von Unna as Sophia
1835 Ulysses von Ithacia as Juno
1836 Den skinsyge kone as Mistress Oakley
1836 Emilie Galotti as Grevinde Orsina
1837 De fire formyndere as Madam Prim

1840s

1843 'Macbeth as Lady Macbeth
1844 Jægerne as Madam Warberger
1844 Kalifen af Bagdad as Enke
1845 Romeo og Julie as Fru Capulet
1846 Bagtalelsens skole as Mistress Candour
1846 Den adelige borger as Madame Jourdain
1847 Macbeth as Lady Macbeth

1850s

1850 Naar enden er god Rousillon
1851 'Hamlet as Gertrud
1856 'Kongens læge as Grevinden af Rousillon