With the desire to hire a Swedish opera troupe to perform Swedish operas, Gustav III laid the groundwork to build a national theater, the likes of which had never been seen before in the country. The opulent opera house was inaugurated in 1782, but 10 years later Gustav III was assassinated at the theatre during a masquerade ball. Subsequently the national theater shuttered.
After being closed for 100 years after the king’s death, a new opera house was built in its place. The current Royal Swedish Opera was built with a neo-Renaissance exterior and neo-Baroque interior, complete with a grand staircase, golden foyer, massive crystal chandeliers, and lavishly-designed auditorium. Most walk and sight-seeing tours stop for a photo op outside but it’s worth coming back later for a tour of the interior.