Unperformed Bellman work premieres at Stockholm festival

Carl Michael Bellman's rarely heard song-play, "Bacchi tempel" (Temple of Bacchus), will receive its world premiere on June 6 at the Tyska kyrkan in Stockholm. The performance is a highlight of the Stockholm Early Music Festival, celebrating the 18th-century poet and composer's most ambitious dramatic work.

Jennie Nell, a literary scholar and chair of the Swedish Bellman Society, described "Bacchi tempel" as Bellman's most sophisticated genre-bending experiment. Published in 1783, the work has remained unperformed for over two centuries. Nell suggests the absence of dramatic action and the presence of lengthy episodes with parenthetical remarks and ceremonial parts may have contributed to its neglect, potentially posing a challenge for contemporary audiences unfamiliar with Bellman's world.

Despite its lack of performance, "Bacchi tempel" is regarded as a singular testament to Bellman's artistic prowess and ambition. The work masterfully combines the burlesque and the sublime, showcasing a remarkable balance between literary self-awareness and vivid scenic imagination. It represents a fusion of high and low culture, characteristic of Bellman's unique style.

While the entire song-play is new to the stage, it incorporates several widely recognized songs. "Böljan sig mindre rör," "Vem är som ej vår broder minns," and "Bort allt vad oro gör" are among the well-known pieces featured within the work, often recognized from choral contexts. The premiere is directed by Patrik Sörling and features soloists Staffan Liljas, Mathilda Sidén Silfver, and Martin Vanberg.