The Royal Swedish Opera has over the years sent many a great opera singer out into the world. Jenny Lind, Christina Nilsson, Jussi Björling, Birgit Nilsson, Sigurd Björling, Gösta Winbergh, Elisabeth Söderström, Nicolai Gedda, Ingvar Wixell and Berit Lindholm are but a few of the legendary Swedish singers who once made their debut at the Royal Opera. And the tradition continues with singers like Håkan Hagegård, Birgitta Svendén, Katarina Dalayman, Nina Stemme, Peter Mattei, Lars Cleveman, Anna Larsson, Michael Weinius, Malena Ernman and many more besides. Birgitta Svendén is today both General Manager and Opera Director of the Royal Swedish Opera.
The Royal Swedish Ballet, resident Ballet Company of the Royal Swedish Opera, under its present director Johannes Öhman, is nowadays regarded as one of Europe's leading ballet companies. It has also fostered its legends like Jean Börlin, Carina Ari, Elsa Marianne von Rosen, Mariane Orlando, Björn Holmgren, Ellen Rasch and Anneli Alhanko. For some young dancers, such as Johan Renvall of the American Ballet Theatre, the Royal Ballet acted as a springboard to world fame. Tours to many foreign countries, like China, USA, Spain, Italy, Japan and USA have greatly enhanced the company's reputation as a leading exponent of classical as well as modern ballet. Among the stars in the company of today can be found principal dancers like Marie Lindqvist, Nadja Sellrup, Anna Valev, Olof Westring and Jan-Erik Wikström.
The Royal Opera started touring with its opera productions in the 1920s, first around Sweden and later in other parts of Scandinavia and the North and since 1959 further afield to places like Edinburgh, London, Montreal, Munich, Kiel, Wiesbaden, Moscow, Seville, Dresden, Berlin, Savonlinna and Oslo. Today the Royal Opera employs some 560 people on a permanent basis. Its orchestra, The Royal Opera Orchestra, counts 107 members and is one of Scandinavia's largest orchestra’s as well as one of the oldest in the world, having originated as King Gustaf Wasa's Court Chapel in the 16th century. The Royal Opera Chorus numbers 60 members and the Royal Ballet 70 dancers. There are some 25 permanently employed solo singers and numerous guest singers every season. The Opera's season runs between late August and late June, and during this time some 350 performances: opera, ballet performances and concerts are given, primarily on the main stage in the opera house, but also on the Rotundan stage within the premises, at the ancient Drottningholm Court Theatre, at the similarly ancient Confidencen, Royal Court Theatre of Ulriksdal, and occasionally, at other venues.
