June in Swedish America

Midsummer celebrations are in full swing, but so are a lot of other events you don’t want to miss.  

  • 2018 Jenny Lind scholar, soprano Kine Sandtrø tours the U.S. in June. Photo folketshusochparker.se

  • If Midsummer celebrations are what you're looking for, check our Swedish Midsummer in America 2018 listing here, but a lot of other great events are listed below. Mark your calendars!

  • Jepokryddona performs on the East Coast in June.

  • SATURDAY, JUNE 16
    Berkeley, CA
    The Luminous Legacy of Greta Garbo, 7:30 PM
    See Queen Christina. In 1933, MGM lured Garbo back from Sweden for her pet project, Queen Christina, in which Garbo explores the pains and pleasures of crossing between nations, genders and sexualities, in this loose biography of the Swedish queen. BAMFA, 510.642.0808 / bampfa@berkeley.edu / www.bampfa.org/event/queen-christina-3

  • Garbo, the unforgettable ... see films in the BAMFA series: The Luminous Legacy of Greta Garbo, playing this summer.

  • West Newton, MA
    Jepokryddona concert, 6-9 PM
    The music of Jepokryddona springs from the Swedish speaking regions of Jeppo in Nykarleby, Ostrobothnia, Finland. In fact, Jeppo is one of the few places in the world where the minuet and the polska remain part of a living tradition of playing and dancing. Jeppo is a source of countless old-style melodies. Jepokryddona delivers a young, fresh touch on the swing and fire of old fiddlers. Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / kerry@scandicenter.org / www.scandicenter.org/event/jepokryddona

  • MONDAY, JUNE 18
    New Orleans, Louisiana
    Jenny Lind Concert and Dinner, 6-7:30 PM
    The Historic New Orleans Collection presents a recital featuring the repertoire of Jenny Lind, featuring soprano Kine Sandtrø and pianist Julia Sjöstedt. The program will feature operatic arias as well as Nordic folk music. Admission is free, but registration is required. Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., 504.523.4662 / www.hnoc.org/swedish-nightingale

  • New York, NY
    Jepokryddona concert, 6-8:30 PM
    Finnish-Swedish folk music group Jepokryddona brings a performance of music in the Jacobstad traditions of Jeppo, Finland to New York. Active since 1994, Jepokryddona delivers a young, fresh touch on the swing and fire of old fiddlers. Free at Scandinavia House, 212.779.3587 / press@amscan.org www.scandinaviahouse.org/events/jepokryddona

  • TUESDAY, JUNE 19
    New York, NY
    Film: Siri Derkert Trilogy by Teresia Björk, 6-8 PM
    This film by Håkan Larsson and Bengt Wanselius premieres at Scandinavia House. It follows the development of performances by dancer/choreographer Teresia Björk, interpreting the works of 20th century Swedish arts pioneer Siri Derkert through dance. Working with composers Per Åhlund, Manoli Moriarty, and Martin Landquist, Björk has staged the trilogy throughout Sweden. A discussion follows the film. 212.779.3587 / press@amscan.org . www.scandinaviahouse.org/events/teresia-bjork-dance-films

  • THURSDAY, JUNE 21
    Chicago, IL
    Hejsan Story and Crafts, 11 AM – 12 PM
    Come explore the rich music culture of Sweden at this last Hejsan of the season. All ages are welcome to attend with a caregiver (free with admission). Reservations appreciated via snyman@samac.org, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org

  • San Francisco, CA
    Annual Jenny Lind Concert, 12:30-2:30 PM
    The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival showcases the most extraordinary young soprano from Sweden, Kine Sandtrø, winner of the Jenny Lind Scholarship. offers a thrilling peek at the future of opera. Esplanade, Yerba Buena Gardens, 415.543.1718 / www.ybgfestival.org

  • Portland, OR
    Odd Nansen Lecture: From Day to Day, 7-8 PM
    Timothy Boyce presents on the secret WWII diary of Odd Nansen, a political prisoner and the son of Norwegian explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen. Boyce shares his critically acclaimed translation and amazing story, spreading awareness with one of the few translated documents to come out of European concentration camps. Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / lailas@nordicnorthwest.org / www.nordicnorthwest.org

  • FRIDAY, JUNE 22
    Berkeley, CA
    The Luminous Legacy of Greta Garbo, 7 PM
    See Anna Christie. A world-weary Swedish girl makes her way back to her father’s fishing barge in Garbo’s sound debut. BAMPFA, 2155 Center St., Berkeley / www.bampfa.org

  • ONGOING and SOON in Mystic, CT
    The Vikings Begin: Treasures from Uppsala exhibit. Priceless treasures, including helmets, shields, weapons, glass, and thematic sections on Viking warfare, trade, the Baltic Sea, a ship burial, Norse gods, and relations to other cultures employ rare archaeological finds in the discovery of how this maritime society lived more than a millennium ago. On exhibit through September at Mystic Seaport. 860.572.0711 / info@mysticseaport.org

  • Mystic is also the U.S. home of the Viking ship Draken Harald Hårfagre, which may soon be taking another tour along the Atlantic Coast. Stay tuned! www.drakenhh.com