Karolina Bock

Karolina Sofia Bock née Richter (August 28, 1792, Stockholm – 22 March 1872), was a Swedish stage actress and singer. She was the principal and drama teacher of the Dramatens elevskola twice: from 1831 to 1834 and from 1841 to 1856. During her career, she belonged to the elite of stage artists in Sweden and was particularly popular within comedy.

Acting career

Karolina Richter was born to the hautboist Carl Johan Richter and Magdalena Sofia Rytting. She was a student of the Dramatens elevskola at the Royal Swedish Opera between 1806 and 1810. As such, she was instructed by Sofia Lovisa Gråå, and belonged to those female stage artists of her generation referred to as "The Grå Girls".

Karolina Bock was engaged at the Djurgårdsteatern and the Nya komiska teatern of Isak de Broen in 1813-14. From 1814 until her retirement in 1863, she was engaged at the Royal Dramatic Theatre.

Among her most successful parts were: the title role in »Min tante Aurore» by Boieldieu, Veneranda in »Slottet Montemero», Mrs Slammerström in »Bildhuggaren», aunt Vivika in »General Eldhjelm», mrs Griponiai in »Brodertvisten» by Kotzebue, mrs Miller in »Kabal och kärlek», Viarda in Preciosa, mrs von Fromuth i »Porträttet», mrs Wunschell in »Grefvarne Klingsberg», Theodolinda in »Doktor Wespe», mrs Darmantiéres in »Dottersonen», Margarita in »Mazarin», Fadette in »Syrsan»(the dramatisation of La Petite Fadette by George Sand), mrs Malapropp in »Rivalerna», mrs Harleigh in »Jane Eyre» and Gunilla Fipps in »Mäster Smith». On 26 June 1863, Bock retired after having made her final performance in her favorite part: the grandmother in »Porträttet».