The Swedish Opera in Stockholm has been forced to shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak. According to a report in Radio Classique, the company is experiencing a cluster of 15 Covid-19 cases across several departments and is being investigated by the Work Environment Agency. In a statement, Birgitta Svendén, the president of the Swedish institution, said that none of {…}
The Royal Swedish Opera has released a new recording of Puccini’s “Tosca.” The new recording can be streamed on the company’s Operan Play and stars Malin Byström in the title role. The acclaimed soprano is joined by Daniel Johansson as Cavaradossi and Lukasz Golinski as Baron Scarpia in a concert performance that will be available until May 8, 2021. In {…}
The Royal Swedish Opera has appointed Michael Cavanagh as its Artistic Director. Cavanagh has directed over 150 opera productions at 30 companies around the world. He has served as the artistic director of the Edmonton Opera, production director at Opera on the Avalon in St. John, and written librettos for seven chamber operas. At the Royal Swedish Opera he has {…}
The Royal Swedish Opera has canceled all productions until 2021. In a statement, the company said, “due to the coronavirus, we have decided to cancel all public events at the Royal Opera until December 31. We will contact ticket holders via email and will continuously update operan.se with the latest information.” The news comes as Sweden is seeing a growing {…}
The Royal Swedish Opera opens a new production of acclaimed singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright’s “Prima Donna” on October 10, running through November 14. “Prima Donna’s” libretto is Wainwright’s, written in collaboration with Bernadette Colomine. “Prima Donna,” billed as a tribute to the art of Romantic opera, premiered at the Manchester International Festival in 2009. “Prima Donna” relates the story of a {…}
On April 15, 2020, Swedish mezzo-soprano Kerstin Meyer passed away, at the age of 92. Meyer is remembered as a leading mezzo during the 50s and 60s, singing with prominent companies throughout Europe. After graduating from Stockholm’s Royal College of Music in 1948, Meyer studied at the Opera School, where she won the Christine Nilsson Scholarship to fund studies in {…}
The Royal Swedish Opera is showcasing two major performances on its official website. The first of these that is streaming is Verdi’s “Aida” in a production by Michael Cavanaugh. It stars Katarina Dalayman as Amneris, Christina Nilsson as Aida, Iva Defabiani as Radamès, and Alessio Cacciamani as Ramfis. Pier Giorgio Morandi conducts the performance, which is presented in two parts. {…}
(Credit: Carl Thorborg) The Royal Swedish Opera will be live stream a concert performance of Wagner’s “Die Walküre” on Saturday, March 14 at 3 p.m. local time in Sweden. The performance stars Iréne Theorin, Elisabet Strid, and Greer Grimsley under the musical direction of Constantin Trinks. The company noted in its official announcement that it will open up more daily {…}
(Credit: Peter Hundert I NDR) American conductor Alan Gilbert has been appointed as the new Music Director of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm and will begin in the spring of 2021. Gilbert will combine his new position with the post of Chief Conductor at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the position which he took in the fall of 2019. In {…}
(Credit: Markus Gárder / Royal Swedish Opera) OperaVision will present Giordano’s “Fedora” from the Royal Swedish Opera on Jan. 17, 2020. The Verismo work will star Malin Byström, Daniel Johansson, Ola Eliasson, Marianne Odencrants, Krisitan Flor, Emelie Thoor, Niklas Björling Rygert, Jon Nilsson, John Erik Eleby, Jens Persson, Håkan Ekenäs, Andreas Lundmark, Mikael Fagerholm, and Henrik Hugo, among others. Eugene {…}
(Credit: Monika Ritterhaus) OperaVision will livestream “Der Ferne Klang” live from the Royal Swedish Opera on Oct. 19, 2019. The performance will showcase Agneta Eichenholz, Daniel Johansson, Johan Rydh, Miriam Treichl, Andreas Lundmark, Jeremy Carpenter, Lars Arvidson, Vivianne Holmberg, Marie-Louise Granström, Madeleine Barringer, Ola Eliasson, and Klas Hedlund. Stefan Blunier conducts a production directed by Christof Loy. OperaWire’s review stated {…}