Sophia of Minsk - Medieval Concert and Historical Commemoration at Kongens Nytorv

A journey through 11th-century Europe - with music, stories and living cultural heritage

Come and experience a unique outdoor concert at Kongens Nytorv, where medieval Denmark meets Eastern Europe through music, stories and historical perspectives. The event is dedicated to Queen Sophia of Minsk and Polotsk (c. 1140-1198) - a fascinating and often overlooked figure in Danish history. Sophia came from Eastern Europe and married Valdemar the Great in 1157, becoming Queen of Denmark. Together they had eight children, including the later kings Knud VI and Valdemar II. Through her family, Sophia became part of the European royal network and a historical bridge between Denmark, the Baltic region and the rest of Europe.

Throughout the day, the audience will hear short historical introductions about Queen Sophia's life and significance, and experience musicians interpreting the living folk music tradition from the Polish-Belarusian borderland. On stage you can experience:

🎻 HOMAN - folk rock rooted in Eastern European musical tradition
🎸 Kurwadziki - energetic punk and folk rock
🎶 Musicians from Dzieciuki - one of the prominent names in modern Belarusian folk rock

The repertoire ranges from acoustic interpretations and folk music to modern folk rock, showing how old cultural traditions still live and evolve today. The concert is organized by Beladania Cultural Association in collaboration with the Belarusian diaspora in Poland and Denmark as part of the association's work to convey shared European cultural heritage and create new connections between Denmark and Eastern Europe.

The event is inspired by Danish author Birgitte Hammer's historical novel "The Forgotten Queen", which tells the story of Sophia of Minsk and her significance in Danish medieval history. Come and experience an afternoon of history, music and cultural encounter in the heart of Copenhagen - and discover the story of a queen who connects Denmark with Eastern Europe's roots.