|
Focusing on the sovereign's life and
works, on his thoughts and actions, the Programme aims to renew
the approach of the “Gustave III phenomenon” in his complex
relationship to the arts of his time. An important component of
this complexity is the opening of the artistic links that the
Swedish King created with other European countries: he succeeded
in creating around his own visions a national expression by
merging talents coming from abroad.
The opening of the Swedish Court to
particular forms of European influence did not limit itself to
the collection of exceptional skills through the invitation of
chosen artists. Theatrical themes and ideas also quickly
travelled through Europe, and many plays or operas performed at
the Court of Gustave III were inspired by works previously
created in other countries. Thus, playwrights’ conception were
questioned by their adaptations for Swedish stages.
As an example of these intellectual
exchanges, this study focuses on the adaptation at the Swedish
Court of a Comédie-ballet by Voltaire. Following his study on
Voltaire & Desprez for which he received the Brunetti Study
Grant in 2001, and in the perspective of his general approach of
Voltaire’s work, Philippe Rolland went to Sweden in August
2003. He could gather information at the library of Sveriges
teatermuseum and other places about Birger Jarl och Mechtild, a
1774 Stockholmian metamorphosis of the Versaillaise Princesse de
Navarre of 1745.
Forecasted description of the
project
|
