Rosa Asmundsen

Rosa Anna Charlotte Asmundsen (née Baldani; 29 December 1846 – 15 January 1911) was a Norwegian actress and singer.

Early life Rosa Anna Charlotte Asmundsen was born on 29 December 1846 in Christiania (now Oslo) to Italian plaster manufacturer Giovanni Baldani and Anna Eriksdatter. She married the actor Jacob Hveding Asmundsen (1841–1910) and together they were the parents of actor Sigurd Asmundsen (1871–1934).

Career She excelled as a child actress and had several roles at the Christiania Theatre, including the boy roles of Egil in The Vikings at Helgeland (1858–1859) and the title role in Ole Lukøje (1860).

She continued touring with her husband as part of F. A. Cetti's company in 1871–1872, with performances in Trondheim, Bergen, and Tinn. Then, from 1872 to 1874, they were with E. J. Hafgren at Møllergatens theatre and at Christiania Theatre from 1874 to 1876. It was there she distinguished herself through several singing roles, such as Zerlina in Don Giovanni and as Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro.

Asmundsen was employed by the Den Nationale Scene in Bergen from its opening in 1876 until summer 1903. There she would often play the role of soubrette, the beautiful, mischievous and merry chambermaid. In 1903, she retired because she no longer had the physical capacity required to perform. She was financially supported by the theatre, becoming its first retiree.

Death Asmundsen died on 15 January 1911 in Bergen, at the age of 64.