First opera performance in Swedish at Bollhuset
- When
- 1773
- Where
- Bollhuset, Stockholm
- Episodes
- 1
The first opera performance in Swedish, 'Thetis and Phelée', took place on 18 January 1773 at Bollhuset in Stockholm. Performed by Carl Stenborg and Elisabeth Olin, this event inaugurated the Royal Swedish Opera, marking the establishment of a native-speaking opera tradition in Sweden.
Episodes
Background and detail
Background. King Gustav III fired the French theater company in 1771, allowing Swedish actors led by Petter Stenborg to perform at the 1772 parliament opening in Bollhuset. This event prompted the monarch to establish a native-speaking opera and theater, leading to the foundation of the Royal Swedish Opera in 1773.
Performance Details. The opera 'Thetis and Phelée' was performed on 18 January 1773 at Bollhuset. Carl Stenborg and concert-singer Elisabeth Olin held the leading roles. This performance was the first native-speaking opera in Sweden and was considered a great success, officially inaugurating the Royal Swedish Opera.
Institutional Context. Bollhuset served as the home for the Royal Swedish Opera from 1773 to 1782. The opera company was founded alongside the Royal Swedish Academy of Music by King Gustav III. The performance marked the beginning of Swedish theater, opera, and ballet performed in the native language by native artists.
People involved
- Carl Stenborg · Performer in leading role
- Elisabeth Olin · Concert-singer in leading role
- King Gustav III · King whose decision led to the founding of the Royal Swedish Opera
Sources
- Royal Swedish Opera Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-30
- Bollhuset Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-27
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.