Carl Stenborg (8 September 1752 â€" 1 August 1813) was a Swedish opera
singer, composer and theatre director. He belonged to the pioneer
generation of the Royal Swedish Opera and was regarded as one of the
leading opera singers of the Gustavian era. He was a hovsångare and a
member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Carl Stenborg was born
in Stockholm to actor Petter Stenborg (1719â€"1781), director of the
Stenborg Troupe, and Anna Krüger (1710â€"1803). Of his brothers,
Johan Fredrik Stenborg (1743â€"1813) studied at Uppsala University and
became an official, and Nils Stenborg (d. 1780) became an opera
singer. He received a good education, debuted as a concert singer in
Riddarhuset in 1766 and was appointed councillor at the Royal Court of
Sweden in 1767. This was considered unusual, since his father was not
of wealthy means. Carl's mother had been the housekeeper of the
nobleman and statesman Adam Horn (1717-1778). Carl or one of his
brothers may have been his son, which was to be the reason why the
sons of a poor man had been able to receive such a good education and
reach high positions so early in life.When the Royal Swedish Opera was
founded in 1773, he played the main male role in Francesco Uttini's
opera Thetis och Pélée opposite the primadonna Elisabeth Olin, with
whom he had a relationship. He was the leading male star for several
years and in 1780 was given a life contract. Although he sang tenor
roles, his voice was known for its dexterity and dark timbre and was
nearer to that of a baritone.
singer, composer and theatre director. He belonged to the pioneer
generation of the Royal Swedish Opera and was regarded as one of the
leading opera singers of the Gustavian era. He was a hovsångare and a
member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Carl Stenborg was born
in Stockholm to actor Petter Stenborg (1719â€"1781), director of the
Stenborg Troupe, and Anna Krüger (1710â€"1803). Of his brothers,
Johan Fredrik Stenborg (1743â€"1813) studied at Uppsala University and
became an official, and Nils Stenborg (d. 1780) became an opera
singer. He received a good education, debuted as a concert singer in
Riddarhuset in 1766 and was appointed councillor at the Royal Court of
Sweden in 1767. This was considered unusual, since his father was not
of wealthy means. Carl's mother had been the housekeeper of the
nobleman and statesman Adam Horn (1717-1778). Carl or one of his
brothers may have been his son, which was to be the reason why the
sons of a poor man had been able to receive such a good education and
reach high positions so early in life.When the Royal Swedish Opera was
founded in 1773, he played the main male role in Francesco Uttini's
opera Thetis och Pélée opposite the primadonna Elisabeth Olin, with
whom he had a relationship. He was the leading male star for several
years and in 1780 was given a life contract. Although he sang tenor
roles, his voice was known for its dexterity and dark timbre and was
nearer to that of a baritone.
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