Our Patrons:
A HISTORY OF GIVING
Much of the music performed by the Australian Brandenburg
Orchestra owes its existence, in part, to generous patrons of the
past. They not only commissioned new music, but also provided
musicians with employment, fostered creative thinking, and
established institutions that enabled the arts to flourish. We invite
you to continue the legacy of three such remarkable people, and
share in our belief that a vibrant cultural life makes for a happy,
healthy and motivated society.
CHRISTINA WASA, QUEEN OF SWEDEN
(1626-1689)
Forward thinking, intelligent and cultured, Christina was one of the
greatest arts patrons of the 17th century. Having abdicated the
Swedish throne to become a Catholic, she moved to Rome and
established herself as one of its leading cultural figures. Patron of
the composers Alessandro Scarlatti, Stradella and Corelli, she also
founded Rome's first public opera house at the rebuilt Teatro di
Tor di Nona in 1671. An ageless icon, her life was the inspiration
for the 1933 feature film Queen Christina, starring Greta Garbo.
MARQUESS FRANCESCO MARIA RUSPOLI
(1665-1739)
A flamboyant man-about-town, the Marquess Ruspoli hosted
gatherings at his estate where guests would gossip, play games,
and hear new music performed by his own orchestra. He was
one of Handel's most important Roman patrons, and many of
the fifty secular cantatas he commissioned would have been
performed at such parties. In addition to his patronage of the
composer Antonio Caldara, it is also thought Ruspoli wrote the
libretto for Alessandro Scarlatti's last opera, Griselda.
COUNT GIACOMO DURAZZO
(1717-1794)
This Viennese diplomat made a huge contribution to the mid-
18th century reform of opera, by bringing together the librettist
Calzabigi and the composer Gluck. Known as the Gluckian
reform, they defined an era of opera through their French-inspired
collaborations. In his role as Generalspektakeldirektor (literally
Director-General of Spectacle), he improved standards at local
theatres, and fostered comic opera in Vienna by employing
composers such as Gassmann and Guiseppe Scarlatti to
compose opera buffe.