Kristina Jonasdotter was born in 1843 in Sjöabol, a small
town, in Vederslöv, (Sweden). She was the youngest child of
Jonas Nilsson and Cajsa-Stina Månsdotter. She had five
brothers and one sister. When she was five years old, Kristina
and her family had to move to another village, Backen, in the
village Skatelöv.
Many members of the family had musical talents. Kristina's
brother Sven played the violin, her sister Katarina was a good
singer, and her father sang in the church choir on Sundays.
Kristina had a wonderful voice used her musical gifts to sing
in the neighbouring inns and the visiting fairs trying to gain
some money. She often accompanied herself on violin.
One day she was discovered at Ljungby Fair by the district
judge Tornérhielm. He took her to Madame Adelaide
Valerius-Leuhusen who lived in Gothenburg. ad they took
charge of her education. She studied singing, languages and
nice behaviour in a few different families, among them was
the composer Berwald in Stockholm and the
Valerius-Leuhusen family in Gothenburg. She started calling
herself Christina Nilsson instead of Kristina Jonasdotter.
When Christina was 17 years old, she was sent to Paris to
study singing. She was accompanied by Adelaide
Valerius-Leuhusens sister. Christina took lessons everyday
for four years before she made her debut at Theatre Lyrique as
Violetta in La Traviata. Her name was changed once more to
the more international Christine Nilsson.
In 1867 she returned to Sweden to see her parents.
Christine sang for several years at Theatre Lyrique and she
also sang at the Paris Opera, and she triumphed in a number
of roles: Mignon, Martha, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni,
Ophelia in Hamlet, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Cherubino
in The marriage of Figaro, Margarita in Faust and The Queen
of the Night in The Magic Flute and several more.
She sang in St Petersburg in 1872; in America in 1873-1874
and in 1882; in Germany and Austria between 1876 and 1877;
and in the next few years in Spain and Scandinavia; but after
her marriage with M. Rouzaud her appearances in public were
rare. When her husband died in 1882, five years afterwards,
Madame Nilsson married Count A. de Casa Miranda, and
finally retired from the stage.
Kristina died in 1921 in Växjö and was buried in a mausoleum
in 1923.
It's really amazing the number of coincidences between Daae
and Nilsson's lifes, though there are some places and dates
which are not the same in Leroux's novel.
In addition, according to Les Annales du Theatre et la
Musique from 1875, she never sang at the Opera Garnier: Mr.
Halanzier, Opera director at that time, had prepared the
inauguration gala counting with Mrs. Nilsson, but suddenly,
in the last moment, she couldn't sing, alleging she was sick
that night. Doctors' reports didn't show anything strange in
her health, but Mrs. Nilsson went to Niza in order to rest. Of
course the audience felt quite upset, but the gala night had to
continue without her.
Thanks to Josefine Sjoqvist for the info on this web.
town, in Vederslöv, (Sweden). She was the youngest child of
Jonas Nilsson and Cajsa-Stina Månsdotter. She had five
brothers and one sister. When she was five years old, Kristina
and her family had to move to another village, Backen, in the
village Skatelöv.
Many members of the family had musical talents. Kristina's
brother Sven played the violin, her sister Katarina was a good
singer, and her father sang in the church choir on Sundays.
Kristina had a wonderful voice used her musical gifts to sing
in the neighbouring inns and the visiting fairs trying to gain
some money. She often accompanied herself on violin.
One day she was discovered at Ljungby Fair by the district
judge Tornérhielm. He took her to Madame Adelaide
Valerius-Leuhusen who lived in Gothenburg. ad they took
charge of her education. She studied singing, languages and
nice behaviour in a few different families, among them was
the composer Berwald in Stockholm and the
Valerius-Leuhusen family in Gothenburg. She started calling
herself Christina Nilsson instead of Kristina Jonasdotter.
When Christina was 17 years old, she was sent to Paris to
study singing. She was accompanied by Adelaide
Valerius-Leuhusens sister. Christina took lessons everyday
for four years before she made her debut at Theatre Lyrique as
Violetta in La Traviata. Her name was changed once more to
the more international Christine Nilsson.
In 1867 she returned to Sweden to see her parents.
Christine sang for several years at Theatre Lyrique and she
also sang at the Paris Opera, and she triumphed in a number
of roles: Mignon, Martha, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni,
Ophelia in Hamlet, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Cherubino
in The marriage of Figaro, Margarita in Faust and The Queen
of the Night in The Magic Flute and several more.
She sang in St Petersburg in 1872; in America in 1873-1874
and in 1882; in Germany and Austria between 1876 and 1877;
and in the next few years in Spain and Scandinavia; but after
her marriage with M. Rouzaud her appearances in public were
rare. When her husband died in 1882, five years afterwards,
Madame Nilsson married Count A. de Casa Miranda, and
finally retired from the stage.
Kristina died in 1921 in Växjö and was buried in a mausoleum
in 1923.
It's really amazing the number of coincidences between Daae
and Nilsson's lifes, though there are some places and dates
which are not the same in Leroux's novel.
In addition, according to Les Annales du Theatre et la
Musique from 1875, she never sang at the Opera Garnier: Mr.
Halanzier, Opera director at that time, had prepared the
inauguration gala counting with Mrs. Nilsson, but suddenly,
in the last moment, she couldn't sing, alleging she was sick
that night. Doctors' reports didn't show anything strange in
her health, but Mrs. Nilsson went to Niza in order to rest. Of
course the audience felt quite upset, but the gala night had to
continue without her.
Thanks to Josefine Sjoqvist for the info on this web.
Autograph Letter Signed, in French, from
Christine Nilsson to Lady Malmesbury, 'Ce
Mardi', no date. Thanking her for, and
accepting, an invitation to supper the
following evening.
Christine Nilsson to Lady Malmesbury, 'Ce
Mardi', no date. Thanking her for, and
accepting, an invitation to supper the
following evening.
