Chopin stands as a central voice in a life deeply woven with music, with Mstislav Rostropovich seen as a trusted interpreter and collaborator. Doña Sofia has long placed culture at the core of her public role, a steadfast commitment that repeatedly surfaces in her official schedule and charitable activities. Like Don Juan Carlos, she shares a passion for sailing, having once joined the Greek sailing team as a reserve for the 1960 Rome Olympics and explored Majorca’s coastal routes. Yet her true lure lies in the arts, a devotion that remains evident even when her duties pull her away from the royal circle. This was highlighted twelve years ago at a congress opening and again during the Valldemossa Chopin Festival in August 2012, marking the festival’s thirtieth edition and the composer’s bicentennial. She sat in the front row, keenly attentive to the program as the Balearic Symphony performed under the baton of Antoni Witt, a notable Polish conductor. In 1998, during the unveiling of a Chopin bust sculpted by Zofia Wolska, she visited Cartoixa guided by the Polish genius.
Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich was among her closest friends. Their bond began in childhood and endured until Rostropovich’s passing in 2007 at eighty. The Queen, back then joined by Prince Felipe and the Dukes of Lugo, applauded him in Pollença in 1995. Doña Sofia has led as honorary president of several cultural institutions, including the Reina Sofía School of Music, and she holds honorary academician titles at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando and the Royal Academy of History. The doors of Palma Auditorium remain open for performances she attends, and she has participated in many intimate concerts and ballet events across a wide cultural spectrum.
Doña Letizia is passionate about the big screen
Few festivals can claim to be graced by a Queen in the audience, yet Atlàntida has enjoyed that distinction. Doña Letizia has become a prominent ambassador for cinema, guiding her enthusiasm beyond accolades to active participation in theaters and festival programs. She has visited historic venues such as the Rívoli cinema to watch family favorites like The Lion King and has attended screenings at Madrid’s Manoteras and Renoir theaters, often with the lights dimmed as the movie begins. Atlàntida Film Festival, organized by a digital platform, has seen the Queen lend her presence multiple times, including the 2019 opening at Castell de Bellver where she was photographed with Jaume Ripoll and Soleá Morente. It is said that Ripoll personally outlined his project to the Queen during a palace reception at the Almudaina. Since then, Letizia has remained a loyal participant in Atlàntida, with appearances in Misericòrdia in 2021 and expectations to attend future editions in Palma. Isabelle Huppert, celebrated for films like Women on the Verge, Madame Bovary, and Widow, has also featured in these conversations.
Letizia’s cinema advocacy also extends to supporting original language versions, a stance she champions through events such as the Valladolid International Week. She has joined shoots and discussions for Rodrigo Cortés’ Blackwood and was present at the Princess of Asturias Awards in 2015. A year later, Penélope Cruz joined Letizia on a set for Fernando Trueba’s La Reina de España, pairing with Antonio Resines, Javier Cámara, and Jorge Sanz. The Queen is known to be a friend of Cruz and an admirer of director Carlos Vermut. On the international stage, she expresses a deep interest in the works of Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, whom she greeted warmly at the 2018 Princess Asturias Awards.
Chopin remains a central figure in a life entwined with Rostropovich, and Doña Sofia’s steadfast support for music is unmistakable. The contemporary Queen continuously demonstrates a strong cultural agenda through engagements that highlight music, performance, and education. Her sailing memories from youth coexist with a lasting passion for the arts, and those moments were underscored by the Valldemossa Chopin Festival and the series of tributes marking the composer’s bicentennial. Rostropovich’s friendship, dating back to childhood, reflects a deep bond within the musical world that endured until his death. The Queen’s leadership of institutions such as the Reina Sofía School of Music and her honorary roles at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando and the Royal Academy of History underscore her influence. The Palma Auditorium remains a frequent venue, symbolizing a living nexus of performance and culture.
Her long-standing connections with prominent musicians and ensembles illustrate a life spent fostering artistic exchange. The royal circle has celebrated Rostropovich’s contributions with ceremonial praise, and Doña Sofia’s collaborations with Italian and Polish artists have helped solidify a transnational cultural dialogue that continues to inspire new generations.
Doña Letizia is passionate about the big screen
The presence of a Queen in cinema festivals is rare and valuable, and Atlàntida has borne witness to that rarity. Doña Letizia’s cinematic leadership goes beyond awards; she actively engages with theaters and festival venues, including venues like the Rívoli and other historic spaces. When she attended the festival’s opening in Castell de Bellver in 2019, she was photographed with Ripoll and Soleá Morente, signaling a hands-on commitment to emerging talents. Ripoll reportedly shared his project details directly with the Queen during a palace reception at the Almudaina, further strengthening the link between cinema and royal patronage. Letizia’s continued involvement with Atlàntida signals her enduring dedication to film, with appearances anticipated in Palma in upcoming editions. Isabelle Huppert, known for roles in Women’s Affairs, Madame Bovary, and Widow, has highlighted the cinematic landscape alongside the Queen.
Letizia has also shown unwavering support for cinema in its original form, backing projects at Valladolid’s International Week and visiting film sets such as Blackwood with Rodrigo Cortés in 2018. Her interest extends to contemporary Spanish productions like La Reina de España by Fernando Trueba, featuring Antonio Resines, Javier Cámara, and Jorge Sanz. Rumors persist that Letizia maintains close friendships with Penélope Cruz and admires directors such as Scorsese and Coppola, a connection she celebrated during the 2018 Princess Asturias Awards.
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