On October 5, 2026, Den Andra Operan, the innovative opera company that focuses entirely on works by female composers, was awarded Folkoperan’s Claes Fellbom Scholarship. The prestigious prize, amounting to 100,000 kronor, was presented during Folkoperan’s 50th anniversary, marking an important milestone for both the company and the Swedish opera scene at large.
Enriching opera through representation and rediscovery
Den Andra Operan was founded in 2016 and has since the beginning distinguished itself by dedicating itself to discovering, performing, and spreading operas by female creators. In an art form where male composers have long dominated, the company’s work creates balance and new artistic perspectives. In the motivation from the scholarship jury, it was emphasized how Den Andra Operan highlights female creators, expands the opera repertoire, and presents new stories that give life to the genre.
Through its creative search, the ensemble has brought forth musical treasures that in many cases have remained in obscurity for decades or centuries. Several of these works were both innovative and acclaimed in their time but then fell into oblivion. By reviving these works, Den Andra Operan challenges prevailing norms and reclaims an important part of opera history. The company’s efforts are characterized by artistic precision, creative innovation, and a clear commitment to involving the audience in meaningful ways.
The pursuit of a more equal opera repertoire is central to Den Andra Operan. Since its inception, it has consistently chosen works by female composers in order to create long-term change within the industry’s structures. In this way, they reveal the diversity and drama found in women’s music creation, often with unexpected libretti and unique dramatic developments.
The Claes Fellbom Scholarship was established in 2024 by the Folkoperan Foundation to reward and inspire innovators who—in the spirit of Fellbom—develop and democratize the art form. The jury consists of the foundation’s board members as well as Folkoperan’s artistic and musical leadership. This year, the prize was awarded by the foundation’s chair Gunilla Kindstrand.
Claes Fellbom, after whom the scholarship is named, founded Folkoperan in 1976 together with, among others, conductor Kerstin Nerbe, and introduced a populist vision that changed the Swedish opera scene. Fellbom served as artistic director until 2008 and directed several of Folkoperan’s most successful productions, as well as wrote librettos for, among others, Daniel Börtz's 'Marie Antoinette', Sven-David Sandström’s 'Jeppe', and Anders Nilsson’s 'Zarah'. Fellbom also opened the door for a new generation of directors, such as Staffan Valdemar Holm, Lars Rudolfsson, and Farnaz Arbabi, to approach opera for the first time.
With the awarding of the Claes Fellbom Scholarship, Den Andra Operan’s crucial significance in both broadening and renewing opera is highlighted. By giving a stage to overlooked masterpieces and the creative women who have previously been rendered invisible, it is ensured that the stage remains a place for diversity, rediscovery, and equal opportunities. The prize marks an inspiring chapter for Den Andra Operan and an important step for Swedish opera toward increased inclusion and variety.
