Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera | |
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Axel Johan Anderberg |
Royal Swedish Opera (Swedish: Kungliga Operan) is an opera and ballet company based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Location and environment
The building is located in the center of Sweden's capital
Further historically as well as architecturally important buildings in the close neighborhood are the
History
The opera company was founded with the
But the first opera 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", however the terms "The Gustavian Opera" and "The Oscarian Opera", or the "Old" and "New" Opera are used when distinction is needed.
The Gustavian Opera
The original Stockholm Opera House, the work of architect
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, 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 by
The Oscarian Opera, Operan
The old opera was demolished in 1892 to give way to the construction of a new Opera drawn by
The new house had the letters Kungl. Teatern, literally "Royal Theatre" (which caused the later-founded Royal Dramatic Theatre to add the distinction "dramatic" to its name). The building is now simply called Operan ("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-tiered auditorium 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 King Carl XVI Gustaf keeps the Royal Box reserved, located in the first tier in the auditorium above the orchestra pit.
Ensembles, artists and artistic leadership
Famous singers who have been part of the opera's ensemble have included Jussi Björling, Gösta Winbergh, Nicolai Gedda, Peter Mattei, Jenny Lind, Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth Söderström, Fritz Arlberg, Anne Sofie von Otter, Katarina Dalayman and Nina 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.
The current general manager of the Royal Swedish Opera is the Swedish mezzo-soprano Birgitta Svendén. She is currently contracted in the post through 2022. 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.[3] The company's most recent chief conductor was Lawrence Renes, who held the post from 2012[4] through 2017.[5] In January 2020, Royal Swedish Opera announced the appointment of Alan Gilbert as its next music director, effective in the spring of 2021. Gilbert had first guest-conducted with the company in 2012.[5]
References
Notes
- ^ "Edvard Armas Järnefelt" (in Swedish). Kungliga Hovkapellet. 14 December 2007. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ Photo of Järnefelt Archived 2023-08-30 at the Wayback Machine conducting the Royal Swedish Orchestra during the Opera House's 400th anniversary celebrations (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Michael Cavanagh ny operachef på Kungliga Operan" (Press release). Royal Swedish Opera. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Lawrence Renes – Ny chefdirigent på Kungliga Operan" (Press release) (in Swedish). Kungliga Operan. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Conductor Alan Gilbert Named Next Music Director of Royal Swedish Opera". Opera News. 16 January 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
Sources
- Beauvert, Thierry, Opera Houses of the World, The Vendome Press, New York, 1995. ISBN 0-86565-978-8
- Zeitz, Karyl Lynn, Opera: the Guide to Western Europe's Great Houses, Santa Fe, New Mexico: John Muir Publications, 1991. ISBN 0-945465-81-5
- Georg Nordensvan, "Svensk teater och svenska skådespelare". (Swedish)