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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Katharina Stern was the daughter of engineer [[Georg Stern (engineer)|Georg Joseph Stern]] and his wife Bertha Elisabeth (1870–1963), née Schmidt, the younger sister of [[Conrad Schmidt]] and [[Käthe Kollwitz]], née Schmidt. Katharina's sisters were actress [[Johanna Hofer|Johanna Therese]] (married to director [[Fritz Kortner]]), actress and choreographer [[Maria Matray]], and stage actress [[Regula Keller (actress)|Gregola Keller]] (known under stage name Regula Keller, 1897–1983).<ref name="IMDbBio">[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827886/bio ''Katta Sterna Biography'']. In: IMDb, on: imdb.com</ref><ref name="Dogramaci">Burcu Dogramaci: ''Drei Schwestern. Die Schauspielerinnen Maria Solveg, Katta Sterna und Johanna Hofer zwischen Kaiserreich und Emigration''. In: ''Exil'', No. 1 (2003), pp. 62–77. (Part 1); ''Exil'', No. 2 (2003), 2, pp. 5–19. (Part 2)</ref>
Katharina Stern was the daughter of engineer [[Georg Stern (engineer)|Georg Joseph Stern]] and his wife Bertha Elisabeth (1870–1963), née Schmidt, the younger sister of [[Conrad Schmidt (economist)|Conrad Schmidt]] and [[Käthe Kollwitz]], née Schmidt. Katharina's sisters were actress [[Johanna Hofer|Johanna Therese]] (married to director [[Fritz Kortner]]), actress and choreographer [[Maria Matray]], and stage actress [[Regula Keller (actress)|Gregola Keller]] (known under stage name Regula Keller, 1897–1983).<ref name="IMDbBio">[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827886/bio ''Katta Sterna Biography'']. In: IMDb, on: imdb.com</ref><ref name="Dogramaci">Burcu Dogramaci: ''Drei Schwestern. Die Schauspielerinnen Maria Solveg, Katta Sterna und Johanna Hofer zwischen Kaiserreich und Emigration''. In: ''Exil'', No. 1 (2003), pp. 62–77. (Part 1); ''Exil'', No. 2 (2003), 2, pp. 5–19. (Part 2)</ref>


During her adolescence, Katharina was considered distracted and very impulsive. Her parents therefore consulted [[Theodor Ziehen]], head of the Psychiatric and Neurological Clinic at the [[Charité]] of the [[Humboldt University of Berlin|Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Berlin]], who diagnosed her as incurable and recommended her placement in a sanatorium.<ref name="IMDbBio" />
During her adolescence, Katharina was considered distracted and very impulsive. Her parents therefore consulted [[Theodor Ziehen]], head of the Psychiatric and Neurological Clinic at the [[Charité]] of the [[Humboldt University of Berlin|Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Berlin]], who diagnosed her as incurable and recommended her placement in a sanatorium.<ref name="IMDbBio" />

== Career ==
[[File:Sterna katta matray ernst.png|thumb|upright|Katta Stern and Ernst Mátray, circa 1925]]
[[File:Matray ernst sterna katta.png|thumb|upright|Ernst Mátray and Katta Stern, circa 1929]]
When Katharina saw dancer [[Anna Pavlovna Pavlova|Anna Pavlova]] dance, she decided to become a dancer as well. She took lessons from Austrian dancer, choreographer, dance educator, and actress [[Grete Wiesenthal]]. Her first engagements were at the [[Deutsches Opernhaus|German Opera House]] in [[Berlin]], where she adopted the stage name "Katta Sterna." In 1913, she met actor and dancer [[Ernst Mátray]], who was married to actress [[Greta Schröder]]. They became a couple both professionally and privately.<ref name="IMDbBio" /><ref name="Dogramaci" />

In 1915, Katta Sterna made her theater debut with [[Max Reinhardt]] alongside Ernst Mátray in ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream|Midsummer Night's Dream]]''. From that point on, they had many joint performances as a dance duo. She also performed as a solo dancer with the ''Mátray Ballet''. Contemporary literature described her dance style as a new form of [[pantomime]].<ref>[[Paul Nikolaus]], [[Ernst Stern|Ernst E. Stern]]: ''Dancers''. Delphin-Verlag, Munich 1919, p. 43. {{OCLC|853284221}}</ref><ref name="IMDbBio" /><ref name="Dogramaci" />

From 1914, she appeared in silent films, initially in ''Lumpchens Glück''. Her only sound film was ''Tingel-Tangel'', produced by [[Erich Engels (director)|Erich Engels]] in 1930.<ref>[https://www.filmportal.de/film/tingel-tangel_760441ce76da4aa78e25313b94b19c87 ''Tingel-Tangel'']. In: filmportal.de, on: filmportal.de</ref> Around 1917, Zehlendorf poet [[Otto Braun (poet)|Otto Braun]] unilaterally fell in love her, but [[Rudolf Borchardt
]] finally managed to dissuade Braun from this unpromising love affair during a heated conversation,<ref name="Sprengel">[[Peter Sprengel]]: ''Rudolf Borchardt: Der Herr der Worte''. C. H. Beck, Munich 2015, ISBN 978-3-4066-8207-0,</ref> because Sterna was in a relationship with {{ill|Ernst Matray|de}}.

Alongside her film career, Katta Sterna became an innovative dancer. In the 1920s, projects emerged in collaboration with Ernst Mátray and her sister Maria Solveg, including ''The Green Flute'', ''Before the Mirror'', and ''Midsummer Night's Dream''.<ref name="IMDbBio" /><ref name="Dogramaci" />

After the [[Nazi seizure of power|transfer of power]] to the [[National Socialism|National Socialists]], the artist, classified as fully Jewish, was no longer allowed to perform in the German Reich. She toured England and the United States, but her attempt to emigrate failed. Therefore, she had to withdraw from public life in Germany.<ref name="IMDbBio" /><ref name="Dogramaci" />

⚫
Her estate is preserved at the German Dance Archive in Cologne.<ref>[https://www.deutsches-tanzarchiv.de/archiv/nachlaesse-sammlungen/s/katta-sterna/ ''Katta Sterna'']. In: Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln, on: deutsches-tanzarchiv.de</ref>


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
Line 27: Line 43:
* John Schikowski: ''History of Dance''. Büchergilde Gutenberg, Berlin 1926, p. 159. {{OCLC|914634787}}
* John Schikowski: ''History of Dance''. Büchergilde Gutenberg, Berlin 1926, p. 159. {{OCLC|914634787}}
* Victor Junk: ''Handbook of Dance''. Ernst Klett Verlag, Stuttgart 1930, p. 225.
* Victor Junk: ''Handbook of Dance''. Ernst Klett Verlag, Stuttgart 1930, p. 225.
* Burcu Dogramaci: ''Drei Schwestern. The Actresses Maria Solveg, Katta Sterna and Johanna Hofer between the Empire and Emigration''. In: ''Exile'', No. 1 (2003), pp. 62–77. (Part 1); ''Exile'', No. 2 (2003), 2, pp. 5–19. (Part 2)
* Burcu Dogramaci: ''Drei Schwestern. The Actresses Maria Solveg, Katta Sterna, and Johanna Hofer between the Empire and Emigration''. In: ''Exile'', No. 1 (2003), pp. 62–77. (Part 1); ''Exile'', No. 2 (2003), 2, pp. 5–19. (Part 2)

⚫
== External links ==
⚫
* [https://www.deutsches-tanzarchiv.de/archiv/nachlaesse-sammlungen/s/katta-sterna Katta Sterna] at the [[Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln|German Dance Archive Cologne]].


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />

⚫
== External links ==
* [https://www.deutsches-tanzarchiv.de/archiv/nachlaesse-sammlungen/s/katta-sterna Katta Sterna] at the [[Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln|German Dance Archive Cologne]].
* {{IMDb name|id=0827886}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterna, Katta}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterna, Katta}}
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[[Category:Silent film actresses]]
[[Category:Silent film actresses]]
[[Category:Film actresses]]
[[Category:Film actresses]]
[[Category:German]]
[[Category:German actresses]]
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:Women]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]

Latest revision as of 12:15, 9 December 2024

Katta Sterna, around 1918

Katta Sterna, (born Katharina Ida Stern; December 19, 1897 – July 29, 1984) was a German actress and dancer.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Katharina Stern was the daughter of engineer Georg Joseph Stern and his wife Bertha Elisabeth (1870–1963), née Schmidt, the younger sister of Conrad Schmidt and Käthe Kollwitz, née Schmidt. Katharina's sisters were actress Johanna Therese (married to director Fritz Kortner), actress and choreographer Maria Matray, and stage actress Gregola Keller (known under stage name Regula Keller, 1897–1983).[2][3]

During her adolescence, Katharina was considered distracted and very impulsive. Her parents therefore consulted Theodor Ziehen, head of the Psychiatric and Neurological Clinic at the Charité of the Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Berlin, who diagnosed her as incurable and recommended her placement in a sanatorium.[2]

Career

[edit]
Katta Stern and Ernst Mátray, circa 1925
Ernst Mátray and Katta Stern, circa 1929

When Katharina saw dancer Anna Pavlova dance, she decided to become a dancer as well. She took lessons from Austrian dancer, choreographer, dance educator, and actress Grete Wiesenthal. Her first engagements were at the German Opera House in Berlin, where she adopted the stage name "Katta Sterna." In 1913, she met actor and dancer Ernst Mátray, who was married to actress Greta Schröder. They became a couple both professionally and privately.[2][3]

In 1915, Katta Sterna made her theater debut with Max Reinhardt alongside Ernst Mátray in Midsummer Night's Dream. From that point on, they had many joint performances as a dance duo. She also performed as a solo dancer with the Mátray Ballet. Contemporary literature described her dance style as a new form of pantomime.[4][2][3]

From 1914, she appeared in silent films, initially in Lumpchens Glück. Her only sound film was Tingel-Tangel, produced by Erich Engels in 1930.[5] Around 1917, Zehlendorf poet Otto Braun unilaterally fell in love her, but [[Rudolf Borchardt ]] finally managed to dissuade Braun from this unpromising love affair during a heated conversation,[6] because Sterna was in a relationship with Ernst Matray [de].

Alongside her film career, Katta Sterna became an innovative dancer. In the 1920s, projects emerged in collaboration with Ernst Mátray and her sister Maria Solveg, including The Green Flute, Before the Mirror, and Midsummer Night's Dream.[2][3]

After the transfer of power to the National Socialists, the artist, classified as fully Jewish, was no longer allowed to perform in the German Reich. She toured England and the United States, but her attempt to emigrate failed. Therefore, she had to withdraw from public life in Germany.[2][3]

Her estate is preserved at the German Dance Archive in Cologne.[7]

Filmography

[edit]
  • 1914: Lumpchens Glück
  • 1914: Das Sportsmädel
  • 1915: The Bartered Bride
  • 1915: Marionettes
  • 1915: Teufelchen
  • 1918: Ticky-Tacky
  • 1919: A Brilliant Case
  • 1919: The Engagement Telescope
  • 1920: Flimmerherzen
  • 1920: O du Quetschfalte meines Herzens
  • 1921: Comrades
  • 1921: When I Was a Corpse
  • 1929: Sailor's Dance. Maria Solveg and Katta Sterna of the Matray Ballet
  • 1930: Tingel-Tangel[8]

Literature

[edit]
  • Paul Nikolaus, Ernst E. Stern: Dancers. Delphin-Verlag, Munich 1919, p. 43. OCLC 853284221
  • John Schikowski: History of Dance. Büchergilde Gutenberg, Berlin 1926, p. 159. OCLC 914634787
  • Victor Junk: Handbook of Dance. Ernst Klett Verlag, Stuttgart 1930, p. 225.
  • Burcu Dogramaci: Drei Schwestern. The Actresses Maria Solveg, Katta Sterna, and Johanna Hofer between the Empire and Emigration. In: Exile, No. 1 (2003), pp. 62–77. (Part 1); Exile, No. 2 (2003), 2, pp. 5–19. (Part 2)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Birth register, Charlottenburg registry office, No. 4731/1897
  2. ^ a b c d e f Katta Sterna Biography. In: IMDb, on: imdb.com
  3. ^ a b c d e Burcu Dogramaci: Drei Schwestern. Die Schauspielerinnen Maria Solveg, Katta Sterna und Johanna Hofer zwischen Kaiserreich und Emigration. In: Exil, No. 1 (2003), pp. 62–77. (Part 1); Exil, No. 2 (2003), 2, pp. 5–19. (Part 2)
  4. ^ Paul Nikolaus, Ernst E. Stern: Dancers. Delphin-Verlag, Munich 1919, p. 43. OCLC 853284221
  5. ^ Tingel-Tangel. In: filmportal.de, on: filmportal.de
  6. ^ Peter Sprengel: Rudolf Borchardt: Der Herr der Worte. C. H. Beck, Munich 2015, ISBN 978-3-4066-8207-0,
  7. ^ Katta Sterna. In: Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln, on: deutsches-tanzarchiv.de
  8. ^ Katta Sterna. In: filmportal.de, on: filmportal.de
[edit]
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