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Queen Christina of Sweden, the European
Europe was ravaged by political and religious conflicts when Christina of
Sweden (1626-1689) grew up. At the age of six, she witnessed the funeral of her
father, Gustavus Adolphus, fallen on the battlefield in Germany as Commander
of the Protestant armies in the Thirty Years War against the Catholics. Christina
was the only heir to the throne of Sweden, at that time a Great Power including
Finland, Estonia, Latvia and parts of today´s Lithuania, Germany and Russia.
Christina was raised as a future king, dressed, hunted and rode horses like a
man. She was an intelligent and gifted student, eagerly learning history, religion,
sciences and eight languages. Imposing her will on powerful chancellor Axel
Oxenstierna, the young queen ended the terrible Thirty Years War by signing the
Westphalian Peace in 1648. She founded hospitals, schools and universities in her
territories and invited artists and famous scholars to her dynamic court in
Stockholm.
In 1654, however, on top of power and fame, Christina shocked her subjects
and the whole of Europe by abdicating from the Swedish throne, going into exile
and converting to Catholicism. During 18 months she travelled extensively,
greeted as a Queen of Peace in Hamburg, Antwerp, Brussels, Innsbruck, Spoleto
and other cities. Her destination was Rome, where Pope Alexander VII welcomed
her in 1655 with magnificent processions and ceremonies.
The most prominent woman of the 17th century mainly devoted her new life
to the arts and sciences, although she still had political ambitions. Christina
upheld a huge correspondence, founded academies and was a patron of the arts.
Bernini and Corelli dedicated immortal works to her. She received a sovereign´s
burial in St. Peter´s Basilica. Since then her influence and fascination never
faded. New books about her appear every year, even movies and operas.
What can citizens of modern Europe learn from this remarkable woman? A
century before Diderot and Voltaire she advocated Enlightenment, tolerance,
peaceful coexistence and equality. She refused to accept the traditional feminine
role of the 17th century. Her complex life and destiny show us how cultural
values in the end are stronger than armies. She transcended divisions of nations
and religions. She embodied European integration 300 years before the European
Union, setting an indisputable example of European identity.
During two years, the European Culture Initiative, Queen Christina of
Sweden, the European, follows the Queen´s path through Europe with concerts,
seminars and other events in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy and Sweden. For
excerpts from the events and more details, welcome to visit queenchristina.eu.
The Sjöström Hall, Academy of Music and Drama
Fågelsången 1, 412 56 Gothenburg
Thurday 25 June 2015 at 7 pm (19.00)
Concert
Queen Christina of Sweden, the European
RUBRIK
In 2014-15, under the Patronage of Princess Christina Mrs Magnuson, the European
Culture Initiative, Queen Christina of Sweden, the European, follows the Queen´s path
through Europe with concerts, seminars and other events in Austria, Belgium, France,
Italy and Sweden. The concert presents music performed at the court of Queen
Christina, both in Stockholm and in Rome.
Admission free upon availability. Order your free tickets on [email protected]
Austria Barock Akademie Fondation Maison des Sciences de l´Homme
Teatro Lirico Sperimentale “Belli”
Royal Festivals
JACOB WALLENBERG FOUNDATION
Culture
Anna Eklund Tarantino Soprano
Amanda Liljefors Mezzosoprano
Mats Liljefors Conductor
Ensembles La Badinerie and La Tempesta
Patrick Bismuth Violin solo
Saskia Lethiec Violin
Paul Monteiro Viola
David Gammelgård Violoncello
Jean Christophe Delaforge Violone
Thibaut Roussel Théorbe
Claire Vandenbroucque Recorder, Flûte à bec
Guillaume Cuiller Oboe
Anna Eklund-Tarantino graduated from the Stockholm Royal Opera College.
Her repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary music incl. several roles
composed especially for her, Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro, Gilda Rigoletto,
Violetta La Traviata, Michaela Carmen and others.
Amanda Liljefors graduated from the Vadstena Music College and continues
her professional training at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. She
already performed principal roles in operas by Mozart and Purcell and has been
invited as soloist to concerts in France and Belgium.
The Sjöström Hall, Academy of Music and Drama
University of Gothenburg
Thurday 25 June 2015
PROGRAM
without intermission
Anonymous L´Amour constant Dance suite
(First performed in Stockholm 1646)
16 music movements
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Ohimè ch´io cado (M)
Alessandro Stradella (1639-82) La Forza delle Stelle
Nr 1 Ouverture
Nr 3 Sospiri quanto (S)
Nr 15 Chi viva godendo (M)
Nr 7 Sinfonia and Dances
Nr 11 Disperarsi è vanità (S)
Nr 5 / 6 Io se t´amo / O stelle adorate (Duets)
Nr 14 Sinfonia
Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643)
Cosí mi disprezzate (M)
Gian Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1674)
Vittoria (S)
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1718) Concerto grosso op 6:4
Adagio. Allegro – Adagio – Vivace - Allegro
Mats Liljefors studied violin, composition and conducting in Switzerland,
Germany and France. He is the Artistic Director of Royal Festivals and the
Royal Swedish Chamber Orchestra. He conducted the Munich Philharmonic
Orchestra, Bruckner Orchestra in Linz, Israel Chamber Orchestra etc, operas at
Bolshoi Theatre, Bavarian State Opera, Teatro San Carlo and others.