| Royal Swedish Opera | |
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.jpg) The Royal Swedish Opera in 2021 | |
 Interactive map of Royal Swedish Opera | |
| General information | |
| Location | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Coordinates | 59°19′47″N18°04′14″E / 59.32972°N 18.07056°E /59.32972; 18.07056 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Axel Johan Anderberg |
Royal Swedish Opera (Swedish:Kungliga Operan) is an opera and ballet company based inStockholm, Sweden.
The building is located in the centre of Sweden's capital,Stockholm, in the borough ofNorrmalm, on the eastern side ofGustav Adolfs torg across from the formerArvfurstens palats, now theMinistry for Foreign Affairs. It lies on the north side of the Norrström River and is connected to theRoyal Palace through theNorrbro Bridge.
Other historically and architecturally important buildings in the close neighbourhood are theSager House, the official residence of thePrime Minister of Sweden, and theParliament House.
The opera company was founded with theRoyal Swedish Academy of Music by KingGustav III, and its first performance,Thetis and Phelée withCarl Stenborg andElisabeth Olin, was given on 18 January 1773; this was the first native-speaking opera performed in Sweden.
However, the firstopera house was not opened until 1782 and served for a century before being replaced at the end of the 19th century. Both houses are officially called the "Royal Opera", although the terms "The Gustavian Opera" and "The Oscarian Opera" or the "Old" and "New" Opera are used when distinction is needed.
The original Stockholm Opera House, the work of architectCarl Fredrik Adelcrantz, was commissioned by KingGustav III, a strong adherent of the ideal ofenlightened absolutism and, as such, was a great patron of the arts. The Swedish Opera Company had first been located inBollhuset, but there was a need to separate the opera from the theatre and give them separate buildings. Construction began in 1775, and the theatre was inaugurated on 30 September 1782 with a performance of the German composerJohann Gottlieb Naumann'sCora och Alonzo. It was also the place for public masquerade balls, events inspired by the famous opera balls in Paris, which were open for everyone wearing a mask at a cheap cost and somewhat ill-reputed.
The building was very imposing, with its centre Corinthian tetrastyle portico supporting four statues and topped by the royal crown. The four-tiered auditorium was oval in shape and had excellent acoustics and sight lines. The sumptuous foyer contained neoclassic medallions and pilasters.
It was in the foyer of the opera house where the king met his fate: during a masquerade on 16 March 1792, he was shot byJacob Johan Anckarström and died 13 days later. (In turn, this event inspired the operasGustave III byDaniel Auber andUn ballo in maschera byVerdi.) Following the assassination, the opera house was closed until 1 November 1792, when it was opened again, which by some was considered shocking. The son ofGustav III, KingGustav IV Adolf of Sweden, did not like the opera, possibly because of the murder of his father, and disliked the fact that the scene of his father's murder was used as a place of amusement and leisure, and when a frivolous play was performed for his queenFrederica of Baden in 1806, he decided to close it down. It remained closed until 1809, and when the king was deposed, it took until May 1812 before it was organised enough to be fully opened again.
The old opera was demolished in 1892 to give way to the construction of a new Opera drawn byAxel Johan Anderberg, which was finished seven years later and inaugurated by KingOscar II with a production of a Swedish opera (that tradition had been quite firmly established during the 19th century),Franz Berwald'sEstrella de Soria.
The new house had the lettersKungl. Teatern, literally "Royal Theatre" (which caused the later-foundedRoyal Dramatic Theatre to add the distinction "dramatic" to its name). The building is now simply calledOperan ("The Opera"), written in golden letters above the middle arch on the front facade. It is a majestic neo-classical building with a magnificent gold foyer(Guldfoajén) and elegant marble grand staircase leading to a three-tieredauditorium somewhat smaller than the old theatre. It presently seats 1,200. Most productions are now sung in the original language (with Swedish subtitles), with only a few in Swedish.
The Royal Swedish Family of KingCarl XVI Gustaf keeps the Royal Box reserved, located in the first tier in the auditorium above the orchestra pit.
Famous singers who have been part of the opera's ensemble have includedJussi Björling,Gösta Winbergh,Nicolai Gedda,Peter Mattei,Jenny Lind,Birgit Nilsson,Elisabeth Söderström,Fritz Arlberg,Anne Sofie von Otter,Katarina Dalayman andNina Stemme.
The orchestra of the Royal Swedish Opera, the Royal Swedish Orchestra,Kungliga Hovkapellet, dates back to 1526. Royal housekeeping accounts from 1526 mention twelve musicians, including wind players and a timpanist, but no string players. Consequently, the Royal Swedish Orchestra is one of the oldest orchestras in Europe.
Armas Järnefelt was on the music staff from 1905, rising to become chief conductor between 1923–1933 and 1938–1946.[1][2] TheRoyal Swedish Ballet,Kungliga Baletten, was founded by KingGustav III in 1773.
Past general managers of the Royal Swedish Opera have includedBirgitta Svendén, who served in the post until her retirement in 2022. The current general manager of the company is Fredrik Lindgren, since 1 July 2022.[3]
In November 2020, the company announced the appointment of Michael Cavanagh as its next artistic director, effective in the summer of 2021, with an initial contract of 5 years.[4] Cavanagh held the post until his death in March 2024.[5] In August 2024, the company announced the appointment of Tobias Theorell as its next artistic director, effective in 2025.[6]
Past titled conductors with the company have includedLawrence Renes, who held the post from 2012[7] through 2017.[8] In January 2020, the company announced the appointment ofAlan Gilbert as its next music director, effective in the spring of 2021. Gilbert had first guest-conducted with the company in 2012.[8]
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