The Queen Danced Alone: Court Ballet in Swedenduring the Reign of Queen Christina(1638-1654)is the first monograph devoted to court ballet during Christina’s reign that offers an in-depth analysis of all the extant libretti of the performances. The Queen’s highly active patronage of this theatre form, and its development in Sweden in the framework of a cultural transmission from France, are elucidated as we follow Christina in her multiple roles of promoter, inventor and dancer of the ballets.
Stefano Fogelberg Rota is a researcher and Senior Lecturer in Literature at Uppsala University. He has published widely on Queen Christina and her cultural patronage in Sweden and in Rome. His research interests include, among other topics, guidebooks to Rome and travel literature from Italy in the eighteenth century.
FOREWORD: Le Ballet des Fadaises (1654)
I. THE INTRODUCTION OF FRENCH BALLET DE COUR TO SWEDEN
A Pedagogic Theatre Form
Le Ballet des plaizirs de la vie des enfans sans souçy (1638)
II. THE NECESSITY OFWAR AND MARRIAGE
Wedding and Birthday Ballets
Le Balet du cours du Monde (1642)
Ballet des phantasies de ce temps (1643)
III. CHRISTINA REIGNS: NEW INFLUENCES FROM FRANCE
Towards a Heroic Grand Style
Le Monde Reiovi [Réjoui] (1645)
French Galanterie for the Marriage of Eleonore Catherine of Pfalz-Zweibrücken
Boutade Les Effects de l’Amour (1646)
L’Amour constant (1646)
Magnus Gabriel De La Gardie’s Embassy in Paris (1646)
Louis de Hesselin’s Entertainment for Christina in Essones (1656)
French and Italian Theatre Workers at Christina’s Court
French Diaspora in Stockholm during the Fronde
IV. PASSIONS RESTRAINED AND PEACE ATTAINED: COURT BALLET’S APOGEE IN SWEDEN DURING THE YEAR 1649
Three Ballets to Say No to Marriage and Yes to Peace
Les Passions Victorieuses et Vaincues (1649)
Le Vaincu de Diane (1649)
La Naissance De La Paix (1649)
V. CHRISTINA’S CORONATION FESTIVITIES
The Coronation Ceremonies
La Pompe de la Felicité (1650)
Le Parnasse Triumphant (1651)
VI. DIVERTISSEMENTS: BOUTADES, MASQUARADES AND PETITS BALLETS
Political Amusements
Les Boutades ou Proverbes (1650)
Le Ballet de la diversité de la Fortune
La Masquarade des Vaudevilles
VII. CHRISTINA’S LAST DANCE IN SWEDEN
The Confirmation of a Model and its Destiny after the Abdication
Les Liberalitez des Dieux (1652)
CONCLUSION