Ball at Svartsjö Castle
Invitation to a ball at Svartsjö Castle, 18 October 2025
Summary:
Date: Saturday 18 October 2025
Time: 17:00-23:20
Price: SEK 1,600 per person
Attire: Festive attire from 1770
Registration opens on 28 July. Register by paying by postgiro or Swish and emailing Tommy Söder (see below)
Contact: Tommy Söder, svartsjo@skrubben.se
Dear member of Gustafs Skål and affiliated associations,
It is with great pleasure that we would like to invite you to a ball that will be held at Svartsjö Castle on Saturday 18 October 2025. The year is 1770, and you’ll have the chance to socialise with the crème de la crème of Sweden who have been invited by the royal couple Adolf Fredrik and Lovisa Ulrika, owners of Svartsjö Castle. The magnificent octagonal hall and other spectacular rooms of the castle will offer many opportunities for us to make the most of.
Much of the evening will be dedicated to Lovisa Ulrika and her family. The programme will begin at 17:00 with a concert featuring Prussian music, and the food served will have a Prussian touch.
Historical recreation in authentic surroundings
Since we will be at Svartsjö where Gustav III's parents often resided, we will enjoy unique opportunities to historically recreate their environment. This is why we’re making an extra effort to stay faithful to important details of dress, dance and concert music. This will be an unforgettable experience!
Music programme
The programme will start at 17:00 with a concert featuring Prussian music under the direction of Ensemble leader and violinist Rebecka Karlsson, who has done a thorough work sourcing music from the court circles in Berlin, where the Queen was born and raised. We will also learn more about the well-educated Lovisa Ulrika and her musical family. Other musicians taking part are harpsichordist Wilhelm Dahllöf and oboist Kerstin Frödin. If finances allow, an additional musician may be added.
Dinner & dancing after the concert
After the concert, there will be dancing and dinner. The dance programme will include dances that would likely have been danced in 1770, and we have been careful in creating the programme. For example, the beautiful cotillion Fröken Höpken has been omitted since Anders Fredrik Skjöldebrand did not meet Fröken Höpken until 1778.
We will start each dance session with minuets that will be danced in order of rank, which will be based on the number of unbroken years a guest has been a member of the Gustafs Skål Historical Society or sister organisation. Dancing will take place to live music under the baton of Wilhelm Dahllöf.
An evening to remember
This ball will be something special – a festive evening to mark our presence at Svartsjö Castle. This is why we are inviting everyone to step into history for an evening by getting as close to historical reality as possible. For this reason, we ask everyone to carefully consider their attire for this event.
Clothing guides & preparations
To help you best prepare, we have produced costume guides for both ladies and gentlemen. You can read more about how people dressed during this period and get tips on how to create a suitable costume as well as what important elements you should consider below.
Practising the dances
We would also like to ask you to prepare well for the dances, which we will present in good time with the level of difficulty for each one. Videos of the dances will be made available in advance, and there will be a dance practice assemblé to live music at Kristinehovs malmgård on Sunday 14 September at 17:30. No registration is necessary, pay SEK 325 at the door. There will also be another dance practice at Kristinehovs malmgård on 16 October. More information will follow soon.
Dancing is voluntary, of course, but we hope that as many people as possible will take up the challenge of dancing all of the dances, including the opening minuets!
Transportation
It is possible to travel by public transport to and from Svartsjö. The evening will end at 23.20, making it possible to catch the bus that leaves at 23.30.
Photography
Using mobile phones will not be permitted during the event. Instead, photographs will be taken discreetly by one of the organisers during the evening to help create a historically authentic atmosphere.
Fee & registration
The fee for the ball is SEK 1,600, which includes dinner, non-alcoholic drinks (alcoholic drinks must be purchased on site), the concert with period instruments, dancing to live music and good company in spectacular premises. There is room for 70 guests, after which registration will close.
How to register:
- Pay into postal giro account 648 11 46-6 or by Swish to 1234 105 128. Remember to include all participants’ names!
- Email Tommy Söder at svartsjo@skrubben.se to let him know you’ve paid. This will also allow us to collect email addresses and rely less on Facebook to communicate information.
Questions? Contact Tommy Söder at svartsjo@skrubben.se.
We look forward to an unforgettable evening with you!
The organising committee
Thommas Andersen, Wilhelm Dahllöf, Denise Engman, Rebecka Karlsson, Anders and Anna Löfgren, Viveka Sjölund, Tommy and Annelie Söder.