Nina (Hagerup) Grieg (1845 - 1935)

Born 24 Nov 1845 in Bergen, Norway

Ancestors

Wife of Edvard Hagerup Grieg — married 11 Jun 1867 in Copenhagen, Denmark

Died 9 Dec 1935 at age 90 in Copenhagen, Denmark

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Biography

"My songs came to life as if they were the products of natural law, and all of them were written for her ... embodying my feelings in song became as much a necessity of life as breathing."--Edvard Grieg: Letters to Colleagues and Friends.^[1]

Nina was the wife of the composer Edvard Grieg and an inspiration for many of his works. She had a beautiful voice, and Edvard believed that she was the authoritative performer of his songs. She and Edvard often performed together, touring throughout Europe; their concerts were an important revenue source for the family. She was also a featured soloist in Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah with Musikselskabet Harmonien in 1866.^[2]

Nina was born 24 November 1845 at Bergen, Norway, the daughter of Herman Hagerup and Adeline Falck. Nina was baptized at the same place on 6 February 1846.^[3]

Nina's family moved to Copenhagen when Nina was eight years of age. She was confirmed in the Lutheran Faith in Helsinge, Frederiksborg, Denmark on 30 September 1860.^[4]

"Her mother was a famous Danish actress, who assumed the management of her first husband's (Werligh's) company After her marriage to Hermann Hagerup she left the stage. Nina Hagerup evidently inherited her mother's dramatic gifts, as revealed in her singing of Grieg's songs. During the period of the engagement to his Danish bride, Grieg was so much under Danish influence that Schjelderup speaks of it as the Danish period in the development of his genius."^[5]

She married Edvard Hagerup Grieg, her first cousin, on 11 June 1867 in Copenhagen, Denmark.^[6] Their parents disapproved of the marriage, and none of the parents were in attendance for the ceremony.

Nina and Edvard were the parents of one child, a daughter, named Alexandra, who died in infancy from meningitis.^[7]

At the time of the 1875 Norway Census, Edvard and wife Nina were living in Bergen in the household of his brother, John, and John's wife, Marie. Also living in the household were John's children: Signe, Agnes, Ebba, Marie, Anna and Alexandra. The family had three servants living with them. Edvard was working as a musician.^[8]

Beginning July 1883, Nina and Edvard separated while Edvard lived in Germany and then began a grueling 12-city concert tour while considering a permanent move to Paris.^[9] By the end of the year, with help from Edvard's friends, the couple was reconciled. After Edvard and Nina reunited, Edvard purchased property outside of Bergen and built a summer home, which Nina named Troldhaugen. At the same time, Edvard also built a small composer's cottage for use when he was working.^[10] Although they were devoted to each other, the couple did not always get along well. In her later years, Nina was quoted as saying: "Edvard and I lived like cat and dog. We were both so unfaithful and both so jealous."^[11]

At the time of the 1900 Norway Census, Edvard and Nina were living in Aker, Akershus, in an adult sanatorium. Edvard was working as a composer.^[12]

Edvard died 4 September 1907 at the Bergen municipal hospital. ^[13]His remains were cremated and the ashes sealed in the side of a cliff projecting into the fjord at Troldhaugen, his home, on 9 September 1907.^[14]

After her husband's death, Nina moved to Copenhagen, where she became active in the Unitarian Church. She died in 1935 at the age of 90. Her ashes were brought back to Troldhaugen, Bergen, to be interred with those of her husband.

Sources

1. ↑ Edvard Grieg: Letters to Colleagues and Friends, edited by Finn Benestad, Peer Gynt Press, Columbus, Ohio, 2000, page 236.
2. ↑ Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, has an good overview of Nina's life and work.
3. ↑ "Norway Baptisms, 1634-1927," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NW4H-FQP : 10 February 2018), Nina Hermansdatter, 24 Nov 1845; citing ; FHL microfilm 278,099.
4. ↑ "Danmark Kirkebøger, 1484-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG3T-1KBX : 15 March 2018), Nina Hagerup, 30 Sep 1860; Confirmation, Helsinge, Frederiksborg, Danmark, 25, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen.
5. ↑ Edvard Grieg, by Henry Theophikius Finck, 1906, London, J. Lane, page 27.
6. ↑ "Danmark Kirkebøger, 1484-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG8J-C399 : 15 March 2018), Eduard Hagerup Grieg and Nina Hagerup, 11 Jun 1867; Marriage, København, Danmark, 33, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen.
7. ↑ Record of the Death of Alexandra Grieg. 25 May 1869. Bergan. Nykirken Prestegjeld.
8. ↑ Folketelling 1875 for 1301 Bergen kjøpstad.
9. ↑ Edvard Grieg: Little Great Man: The Unorthodox Life of Norway's Greatest Composer, by Brenden Ward, ABC Classics eBook, 2015, page location 339.
10. ↑ Edvard Grieg: Little Great Man: The Unorthodox Life of Norway's Greatest Composer, by Brenden Ward, ABC Classics eBook, 2015, page location 339.
11. ↑ Edvard Grieg: Letters to Colleagues and Friend, edited by Finn Benestad, Peer Gynt Press, Columbus, Ohio, 2000, page 559.
12. ↑ Folketelling 1900 for 0218 Aker herred.
13. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #4238 for Edvard Hagerup Grieg.
14. ↑ "Norway Burials, 1666-1927," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWPT-5MT : 10 February 2018), Edvard Hagerup Grieg, 09 Sep 1907; citing Bergen, Bergen, Norway; FHL microfilm 1,282,903.

Additional Sources

• Den Griegske Families Stamtræ utarbeidet av Alexander B. Grieg, Bergen, november 1864 og oppdateringer til 1915. Tillegg av Alex Birger Grieg 1924 og 1941.