EVENTS
1 December 2023 (18:30 - 20:00)
Fredagspils
10 December 2023 (20:00 - 21:15)
Lucia Night: LondonSwedes
4 January 2024 (10:00 - 15:00)
Elektra stage rehearsal
23 January 2024 (18:00 - 20:00)
Early Modernism in Swedish & Finnish Art
30 January 2024 (18:00 - 19:00)
A Tale of Two Giants
Early Modernism in Swedish & Finnish Art
FEATURED EVENT
Council Member and art expert Christina Cadogan will give a talk on Nordic art to the Anglo-Swedish and Anglo-Finnish Societies about the advent of a more modern style of painting in Sweden and Finland in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This was a time of huge social, political and cultural change in Europe and we will look at how Swedish and Finnish art evolved during this period discussing, amongst others, the work of Hilma af Klint and Helene Schjerfbeck. Light refreshments will be served and there will be ...
2023 Punsch Ball
Our annual Punsch Ball took place on the 4 November at the Savile Club in the heart of Mayfair. The guests were entertained at a drink’s reception by the harpist Heather Brooks from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. During the three course dinner the clarinettist Raymond Brien and the pianist Robert Hao gave...
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Christy Symington at The Queen’s House
As part of Black History Month renowned artist Christy Symington talked about of sculpture of Olaudah Equiano, the writer, freedman, and abolitionist. He was known during most of his life as Gustavus Vassa named after Gustav Vasa, who was elected King of Sweden (and Finland) 500 years ago.
Sigismund Dinner
The Anglo-Swedish and Anglo-Finnish societies arranged a King Sigismund Dinner at the Polish Club’s Ognisko Restaurant. 2023 is the five hundredth anniversary of the accession of King Gustav Wasa to the Swedish (including Finnish) throne. His grandson, King Sigismund Wasa, was the only person to have been ruler of Sweden, Finland, Poland and Lithuania. All...
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Ivar Kreuger Talk
Professor David Goldsmith presented a gripping and entertaining talk on the “most famous Swede nobody ever talks about” to a packed audience in Mayfair. David spoke about the infamous “Match King” Ivar Kreuger, his life, work and dramatic downfall. With the use of slides and even original shares certificates from the period, David took us...
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Sir John Ure 1931-2023
The Society's Vice-President and former Chairman (1992-96) has died at 92. John Ure joined the Foreign Service in 1956, where he rose to become Counsellor (intermittently serving as Chargé d'Affaires) in Lisbon from 1972 to 1977, Ambassador to Cuba from 1979 to 1981, Ambassador to Brazil from 1984 to 1987, and Ambassador to Sweden from 1987 to 1991. In Who's Who, John Ure lists his pastime as "Traveling in remote and uncomfortable places and subsequently writing about it comfortably." Sir John is survived by his wife, Lady Caroline Ure.
Mils Bridgewater
Our Art Scholar Mils Bridgewater writes: I am delighted that one of my favourite pieces has been chosen to be part of the Royal Society of Marine Artist’s exhibition at the Mall Galleries from the 20th to the 30th of September. This piece was inspired by the waters around Stockholm while on a residency at...
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Raymond Brien
The Anglo-Swedish Society were delighted to be able to sponsor young, talented, British clarinetist, Raymond Brien, travel to perform at the Hjorted Art and Music Festival. Raymond is a graduate of the Royal Academy and currently on trial as principal clarinet with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The festival took place in Småland, Sweden, and champions...
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Michael Downey
The society recently sponsored UK author and film maker Michael Downey to travel to Fårö in June to take up his role as Writer-in-Residence at the Bergman Center. This is the foundation dedicated to Ingmar Bergman. The Bergman Estate is open to writers, artists, scholars and journalists from around the world. The estate is managed...
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Amie Foon
Congratulations to our 2017-2019 music scholar, who was presented with the prestigious Friends’ Opera Scholarship, by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace Theatre on 7 June. The scholarship was established by the Friends of the Drottningholm Theater Association and is worth SEK 100,000. Amie is a mezzo-soprano who graduated from the...
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Gustav Wasa 500 years
Members of the Anglo-Swedish Society and Anglo-Finnish Society joined together to celebrate the five-hundredth anniversary of the election of Gustav Wasa as King of Sweden and Grand Duke of Finland. Eleven days after his election, Gustav Wasa made a triumphant entry into Stockholm and twenty-one years later he abolished Sweden/ Finland’s hereditary monarchy and established...
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Sweden-Russian War 1808-1809
Professor David Goldsmith gave a fascinating talk about the Swedish-Russian War of 1808-9 and its immense consequences for Sweden and Finland. The talk took place at St. Anne’s Church, Soho. We are very grateful to David for so generously giving up his time and to the Anglo-Finnish Society for hosting the event.
Valborg 2023
Spring was well and truly welcomed at our recent Valborg celebrations in the convivial surroundings of the Travellers Club in Piccadilly. The guest of honour was the renowned author Ulla-Lena Lundberg who was in London to give her talk earlier in the week. The Oxford and Cambridge Scandinavian Societies were represented, and our music scholar...
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Ulla-Lena Lundberg
The renowned Finland-Swedish author Ulla-Lena Lundberg spoke to members and friends of the society about her work and gave a brief introduction to Swedish literature. Ulla-Lena is probably best known for her 2012 novel Is, translated into English as Ice for which she received the Finlandia Prize. The event was held in the intimate setting of the...
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Eivor Martinus 1943-2023
The author and translator, Eivor Martinus has died at the age of 79 years and 11 months. She debuted with a youth novel in 1971, followed by four more novels, seven biographies and non-fiction books, and four of her own plays that were staged in England. Her most outstanding cultural achievement, however, consists of a large number of translations of classic Swedish plays into English. READ MORE
The Baltic Cauldron
The Baltic Cauldron was launched at Queen Anne’s Gate on 13 March. This book portrays the relationship between the Swedish and British Navies over 500 years of extraordinary events in the Baltic region. This ground-breaking study is filled with new insights and contains much previously unpublished information, some based on Swedish sources which are not...
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Maasai beaded belt
The Anglo-Swedish Maasai beaded belt – Hand beaded in Kenya. – 6000 beads on a size 36 belt – The ONLY source of employment for an impoverished community – Bespoke sizes available (i.e. 35, 37 etc.) by emailing info@manyatta.co – Up to 4 weeks delivery time – £90 (£95 size 42+) including presentation box, postage...
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Víkingur Ólafsson
Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has received the 2023 ‘International Nordic Person of the Year Award’ from CoScan, the Confederation of Scandinavian Societies in the UK. The award recognises Ólafsson as “an extraordinary advocate for music across the generations,” and was presented by the Ambassador of Iceland, His Excellency Sturla Sigurjónsson, and Alexander Malmaeus, Chairman of...
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Nordic Winter Art
Council member Christina Cadogan hosted a private view of Nordic art with a winter theme at the Fiumano Clase Galleries in Pall Mall. The exhibition was curated by council member Christina and her business associate Andres Clase. Christina is an art consultant and dealer specialising in Nordic art.
Punsch Ball
Members and guests enjoyed a marvellous evening of food, wine, song and dancing in the convivial surroundings of the Cavalry and Guards Club, Piccadilly. Mezzo soprano, Aina Miyagi Magnell sang. Aina is a Masters student of classical singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has been part of many productions including Der...
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Ambassador’s Reception
Members were invited to a lively reception and concert hosted by H E Mikaela Kumlin Granit at the Swedish Ambassador’s Residence. A special performance was given by Mae Heydorn, the society’s 2008-10 music scholar. Mae is a contralto and sang a wonderfully varied repertoire ranging from Wagner to Gilbert and Sullivan. She has enjoyed great...
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1923 Cup
Herr Joachim Köhler generously donated a commemorative pewter cup from the 1923 Gothenburg exhibition to our sister society in Gothenburg. It was from his parents-in-laws’ estate. John Chaplin, chair of the Anglo-Swedish Society in Gothenburg commented “it has obviously been used on many joyful occasions but the Anglo-Swedish stamp on the bottom is very clear....
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Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022
The Anglo-Swedish Society is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and gives thanks for her 70 years of service to the nation and to the world. Our thoughts are with King Charles III and with his family.
Märta Måås-Fjetterström
Ingrid Person Skogh spoke about the remarkable life and work of one of Sweden’s most influential artists, Märta Måås-Fjetterström.