Royal Swedish Opera is the national opera and ballet scene of the country. The building is located in the heart of Stockholm, in the Norrmalm district on the east side of the street Gustavus Adolphus-bargaining, in front of the palace Arvfursten (the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). It is located on the north side of the river and Norrstrёm connected to the Royal Palace Bridge Norrbro.

Bolshoi Opera was founded by King Gustav III and its first performance "Thetis and Peleus' Carl Stenborgom and Elizabeth Olin was given January 18, 1773. It was the first Russian opera Sweden. However, the first opera house was opened only in 1782, worked for a century, and was replaced in the late XIX century.

The modern opera house was designed by architect Carl Fredrik Adelkrantsem commissioned by King Gustav III, a strong supporter of the ideal of enlightened absolutism and a great patron of the arts. His first theater troupe housed in a building Bollhuset until both faced with the need to separate from the opera drama and give them their own building. Construction of the Royal Opera House began in 1775 and it was opened September 30, 1782. It also held numerous masquerade balls, modeled on the famous opera balls in Paris.

The old building of the opera was The four-room oval, has excellent acoustics and line of sight. Luxurious lobby was decorated with medallions and neoclassical pilasters. It is in the foyer of the Opera House, the King met his fatal destiny: during the masquerade March 16, 1792, he was shot and died after 7 days. (In turn, this event inspired Verdi to write an opera "A Masked Ball"). After the murder of the Opera House was closed until 1 November 1792. However, the son of Gustav III, King Gustav IV Adolf, who did not like opera, perhaps due to the fact that the place of the murder of his father has been used as a place of rest, in 1806 decided to close the theater. It remained closed until 1809.

Old Opera House was demolished in 1892, and the new building designed by the architect Axel Johan Underberg was completed in seven years. The new Opera House was inaugurated by King Oscar II. First, a new home was named - "Royal Theatre", but to add the difference between it and later created the Royal Dramatic Theatre, now it is simply called "Opera" is written in gold letters on the front facade of the middle arch. This magnificent neo-classical building with a magnificent gold foyer and elegant marble grand staircase is somewhat smaller than the old theater. Opera is designed for 1200 seats. Most opera performances today sung in the original language (with Swedish subtitles), and only a few in Swedish.