Christina von Schweden

The life of Christina of Sweden, whose 400th birthday will be celebrated in 2026, might have been lifted straight from a novel — or rather, an opera. Born in Stockholm in 1626, she died in Rome in 1689. During her extraordinary life, which also took her to Innsbruck, she encountered many of the most distinguished figures of her age. A passionate lover of the arts, Christina’s life was shaped by the constant presence of music, of which she became an ardent patron.

This concert traces her life through music: from her coronation — set to Giacomo Carissimi’s "Veni Sponsa Christi" — to her abdication, the soloists, choir, and orchestra of the Opéra Royal de Versailles take the audience on a musical journey through Christina’s remarkable story. One highlight is her sojourn in Innsbruck, where she converted to Catholicism in the Hofkirche in 1654, on her way to the Pope in Rome, and attended a magnificent mass held in her honour.

Shortly afterwards, in 1657, she visited Versailles and experienced the music of Lully and Henri Du Mont. Her final destination was Rome, where she became a celebrated patron of the arts, welcoming and supporting poets and composers such as Alessandro Melani. He composed a splendid requiem which, like many works collected by the most cosmopolitan princess of her time, is preserved today in the Santini Collection.