Malmö Opera
Modernist 1944 opera house with one of northern Europe's largest auditoria.
Malmö Opera opened in 1944 as Malmö City Theatre, the result of a competition whose winning scheme was reworked by Sigurd Lewerentz, Erik Lallerstedt and David Helldén. The long glazed foyer facing a paved forecourt and the marble-clad stage tower behind it made the building one of the defining works of Swedish modernism, and it is now a protected historic monument. The interiors retain original fittings, lighting and artworks, including Nils Sjögren's Tragos fountain on the square outside.
The main auditorium, known as Storan, was built with about 1,500 seats and a movable ceiling that allows the room to be reduced for smaller productions; it remains among the largest theatre auditoria in northern Europe. Since 1994 the house has concentrated on opera, operetta, musicals and dance, working with the Malmö Opera Orchestra and touring productions across the Skåne region. The programme mixes standard repertoire with newly commissioned work and musicals staged on a large scale.
Highlights
- Storan, an auditorium of around 1,500 seats with an adjustable ceiling
- Long glazed foyer, a landmark of 1940s Swedish modernism
- Tragos fountain by Nils Sjögren on the forecourt
- Resident Malmö Opera Orchestra and chorus
