Karolina Bock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karolina Bock
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| Born |
Karolina Sofia Richter
August 28, 1792 Stockholm, Sweden
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| Died | 22 March 1872 (aged 79) |
| Other names | Karolina Richter, Karolina Svanberg |
| Spouse(s) | Johan Gabriel Svanberg, Carl Friedrich Bock |
Karolina Sofia Bock (born Richter) was a famous Swedish stage actress. She was born on August 28, 1792, in Stockholm, and passed away on March 22, 1872. Karolina was also the main teacher and leader at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy for two periods: from 1831 to 1834, and again from 1841 to 1856. She was considered one of the best actresses at the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
Karolina's Life Story
Karolina Richter was born to Carl Johan Richter, who played the hautbois (an old type of oboe), and Magdalena Sofia Rytting.
She began her acting journey as a student at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy. This school was part of the Royal Swedish Opera. She studied there from 1806 to 1810. Karolina was a student of Sofia Lovisa Gråå, a well-known teacher. She was part of a group of female actors from her time who were often called the "Grå Girls."
Starting Her Acting Journey
In 1813 and 1814, Karolina Bock worked at two theaters: the Djurgårdsteatern and the Nya komiska teatern. In 1814, she joined the Royal Dramatic Theatre. She stayed there until she retired on June 26, 1863.
Karolina Bock became one of the best actors in Sweden. She wasn't usually chosen for the main "heroine" roles, which were often the young, leading female parts in plays back then. Instead, she became very good at playing older women in comedies. She was always busy with roles and had a very successful career. People said she was:
- "...an actress who was often used and well-liked. She never messed up a part and was amazing in most roles. She always made her characters very clear and special. Especially when playing older women, she became a top-notch talent."
It was also said that she had a rare quality: she knew what she was good at and what her limits were.
Some of her most famous roles included the main character in Min tante Aurore and Mrs. Miller in Kabal och kärlek. She also played Mrs. Harleigh in Jane Eyre. On June 26, 1863, Karolina Bock retired. Her last performance was in her favorite role: the grandmother in Porträttet.
In 1857, the king gave Karolina Bock the Litteris et Artibus medal. This award recognized her amazing career in acting.
Karolina as a Teacher
Karolina Bock was the head and drama teacher at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy twice. First from 1831 to 1834, and then from 1841 to 1856. She also taught students how to speak clearly and expressively on stage, a skill called declamation.
Many Swedish actors learned from Karolina Bock. Some of her famous students included Emilie Högquist and Jenny Lind. She taught using a French acting style. This style had been brought to the school by Anne Marie Milan Desguillons and was still used when Karolina herself was a student there. She was known for teaching students how to speak Swedish perfectly, both when singing and talking. People said you could tell her students apart because they all spoke so clearly.
However, her teaching style was from an older French school that focused on serious and formal acting. By the mid-1800s, new, more natural acting styles became popular. Even though Karolina Bock was a great teacher, she was also very strict. In 1856, she was removed as head of the school after students complained.
Karolina Bock was known as a "theatre original" because of her strong personality. In 1857, she was asked to teach Danish guest artist Charlotte Bournonville how to speak Swedish. Karolina did such a good job that Bournonville could perform as if she were a native Swede soon after! When the theater thanked Karolina, she "gave them such a load of barking that they quickly retreated." This shows her fiery personality.
Her Family Life
Karolina Bock was married two times. In 1813, she married Johan Gabriel Svanberg, who played the violin in the royal chapel. They divorced in 1822, and she went by the name Mrs. Richter. In 1826, she married Carl Friedrich Bock, who played the flute in the royal chapel. Karolina was the mother of Bertha Tammelin. Bertha also became an actor, singer, composer, musician, and a teacher at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy.
