Swedish-Jewish Life 250 Years
In 1775, King Gustav III made the decision to grant the Jew Aaron Isaac and his followers the right to settle in Stockholm without converting to Christianity. The decision was signed at Ulriksdal Palace, just a stone’s throw from Confidencen. Now, 250 years later, we commemorate this anniversary with two evenings filled with Jewish music, history, and culture.
Gala Evening at Confidencen: Jewish Life 250 Years
May 8 at 7:00 PM
A sparkling evening with a wide range of artists – vibrant and multifaceted, just like Jewish life in Sweden. On stage, we will see Johan Rabaeus as Gustav III and Danny Gordon performing Bellman songs in Swedish/Yiddish – a special tribute to Bellman, who himself sang at Confidencen in the 18th century.
The gala will also feature Anne Kalmering and her klezmer band, Maria Lindal and her orchestra Rebaroque, Semmy Stahlhammer, Manon Pyk, Maria Matyazova, John Nalan interpreting Jacob Mühlrad’s music, Jean-Pierre Barda, Caroline Gentele, Sara Sommerfeld – who will also sign her book after the performance – Zoie Finer, Rennie Mirro, Staffan Scheja, and many more.
The evening’s script is written by actor and comedian Ronn Elfors Lipsker, who weaves together humor, insightful stories, and historical facts for an evening filled with both reflection and joy.
In a time like this, it is more important than ever to highlight the significance of minorities in our society, and to shed light on the rich history of Jewish life and its contributions to Sweden.
The celebration of 250 years of Jewish life in Sweden in 2025 is about sharing knowledge with a broad audience – and this evening is one of many ways to do just that.
Madeleine Onne, Theatre Director at Confidencen
Participants
Jerry Abdo, Jean-Pierre Barda, Peter Bothén, Jonas Dominique, Ronn Elfors Lipsker, Zoie Finer, Caroline Gentele, Danny Gordon, Anne Kalmering, Maria Lindal, Eva Lindal, Maria Matyazova, Rennie Mirro, Magdalena Mårding, John Nalan, Manon Pyk, Johan Rabaeus, Staffan Scheja, Sara Sommerfeld, Semmy Stahlhammer, and Joel Sundin.
With support from:
Harmar AB & Annika and Gabriel Urwitz Foundation
Cultural Heritage Concert 250! Hooray! • My Name Was Euphrosyne
September 28 at 16:00
Part I: My Name Was Euphrosyne – an opera monologue about music, love, and death
The true story of the opera singer Euphrosyne Leman Abrahamson, once predicted to become the heir to Jenny Lind. She became a shining star in Vienna and Madrid, but when she married the merchant August Abrahamson from Gothenburg, she gave up singing.
At Nääs Castle, which he bought for her, they were meant to grow old together.
But the dream was short-lived. Euphrosyne never got the chance to move in.
At the age of 32, her life came to an end.
A story about finding one’s path. About choosing between a passion for music and a longing for love, security, and family.
Performers
Caroline Gentele – Euphrosyne
Eric Skarby – Piano
Andreas Rodenkirchen – Stage director
Caroline Gentele – Script
INTERMISSION
Part II: Heritage Concert – 250! Hooray!
The Jewish musical tradition is rich and diverse. It encompasses everything from traditional folk songs in Yiddish, klezmer and festive music from Eastern Europe, medieval ballads in Ladino from Jewish Spain, Hebrew melodies, and music from Turkey, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula, to jazz, film scores, theatre, and cabaret. It is a living folk tradition, passed down through generations at celebrations, weddings, funerals, and other occasions. Music is a vital part of Jewish cultural heritage.
Anne Kalmering & Stahlhammer Klezmer Classic perform Jewish music in evocative and playful arrangements. They have appeared on television and radio, at the Swedish Parliament, the Royal Palace in Stockholm, at festivals, in schools, and on stages both large and small across Sweden and internationally. In December 2024, they were the only Scandinavian ensemble invited to perform at Yiddish New York, one of the world’s leading klezmer festivals.
Performers
Anne Kalmering – vocals
Semmy Stahlhammer – violin
Miriam Oldenburg – accordion
Isabel Blommé – cello
With support from Beth and Julius Goldman Donation