New Head Appointed at Royal Swedish Opera Replacing Deceased Canadian

Tobias Theorell, Royal Swedish Opera (Courtesy photo)

Tobias Theorell has been appointed head of the Royal Swedish Opera. Theorell replaces Canadian director Michael Cavanagh, who passed away of cancer in March of this year.

What’s up: On August 21st, the Royal Swedish Opera announced that Tobias Theorell will be its new director. Theorell is the artistic director of Stockholm’s Folkoperan and has directed numerous productions at the Royal Swedish Opera. He replaces Canadian director Michael Cavanagh, who passed away in March after beginning his tenure at the Royal Swedish Opera in 2021.

A bit of background: The Royal Swedish Opera also includes a ballet company, youth opera company, orchestra, and chorus. Located in the centre of Stockholm, the Royal Swedish Opera had its first performance in 1773. Over the years, the house has fostered the careers of superstar singers including Anne Sofie von Otter, Jussi Björling, Nicolai Gedda, Jenny Lind, Peter Mattei, Elisabeth Söderstrom, Birgit Nilsson, and Nina Stemme, who all formed part of its ensemble at one time or another.

Tobias Theorell will join conductor Alan Gilbert, who serves as Royal Kapellmeister of the Swedish Opera. We wish Theorell all the best, lyckönskningar!

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.