ROYAL SWEDISH OPERA

Description

Essentials about the Royal Swedish Opera in brief

The Royal Opera House is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in the Swedish capital. Opera and ballet lovers should definitely try to get tickets for a performance. If you are unsuccessful or want to see the opera house outside of a performance, you can take a guided tour.

The history and architecture of the Royal Swedish Opera

The first opera house, built at the end of the 18th century, was demolished in 1891 as it had become worn out and too small. The architectural competition held in 1887/88 for the new opera house was won by the Stockholm architect Valfrid Karlson. However, the design by runner-up Axel Anderberg was realized.

The construction of the Royal Opera House in the neoclassical style lasted from 1892 to 1898 and was inaugurated on September 19, 1898 by King Oskar II. The Stockholm Opera House has 1,240 seats. The so-called Guldfoajé (Gold Foyer), which is located at the level of the first box tier on the second floor above the main entrance area, is lavishly decorated with gilding and mirrors and measures 28 meters by 8 meters.

The exterior color of the building corresponds to that of Stockholm Palace on the opposite bank of the Norrstrom. The royal box on the first tier above the orchestra pit and a private room are reserved for the family of the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf.

The significance of the Royal Swedish Opera

Today, the Royal Swedish Opera’s program consists of around 60 percent opera and around 40 percent ballet performances. There are around 15 to 20 opera productions and around five ballet productions per season. The Royal Opera House is also home to the Royal Ballet and the Royal Court Orchestra.

The Royal Swedish Opera plays a key role in Sweden’s cultural history, as it and its predecessor institutions reflected the artistic style and spirit of the time through the direct cultural-political impulses and influence of the respective rulers, which radiated from Sweden’s capital to the country’s wider surroundings.

A visit to the Royal Swedish Opera

For opera and ballet lovers, an evening performance is of course the best form of visit. If you want to get to know the opera apart from a performance, you can do so on a guided tour. The guided tours offer an insight into the history and architecture of the opera house. They take visitors through the various areas of the Opera House, including the auditoriums, the stage and the rehearsal rooms.