Concert de la Sainte-Lucie

The choir of the renowned Adolf Fredrik School of Music in Stockholm invites you to enjoy an a cappella concert in the courtyard.

In Sweden, every year on 13 December, processions of people dressed entirely in white light up the winter darkness. Men, women and children parade through the streets, churches, school corridors and offices, singing and carrying candles, led by Saint Lucy, crowned with light. Today a secular tradition with its own traditional pastries – the famous lussekatter and saffron buns – St Lucy's Day was originally a Christian feast commemorating the martyrdom of Lucy of Syracuse, who brought food and help to persecuted Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs and lit their way.

The Swedish Institute has the privilege of hosting the Adolf Fredrik Youth Choir for an a cappella concert in the courtyard, a few days before the official feast, but with all the trimmings: saffron and cinnamon buns, spiced biscuits, glögg (mulled wine of varying strengths, or its non-alcoholic equivalent).

The Adolf Fredrik youth choir, which belongs to the music school attached to the Adolf Fredrik Church in Stockholm, is one of the most famous and renowned youth choirs in the world. The young singers who will perform at the Institute are third-year pupils who took part in an audition earlier this year and were selected from a large number of candidates.

In collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden in France.

Useful information

Entry is free, subject to capacity.

St Lucy's Day specialities will be on sale at the Fika café between 17:30 and 19:30.

In case of rain, the concert will take place in the exhibition rooms, in front of a very limited audience. We will not be able to guarantee admission to everyone.