An Unforgettable Night at the Opera

These are the oldest photos on my phone, taken on February 21, 2023, at the Royal Opera in Stockholm during a performance of Stephen Sondheim's musical *Sweeney Todd*. This was kind of a big deal since the Royal Opera rarely stages musicals, focusing mostly on ballet and operas. Unfortunately, the show was a huge disappointment. It was really, really bad—the worst production of *Sweeney Todd* I've ever seen.

The first photo is of me and my friend Magnus outside the opera, with the enormous banner for the show in the background. The second photo captures us in the auditorium, still smiling because the show hadn't started yet. The third and last photo is of the Royal Orchestra, highlighting that we sat in the absolute first row.

These photos tell the story of a night filled with high expectations that quickly turned to disappointment. Yet, they also capture the excitement and anticipation we felt before the show started. The Royal Opera, with its grand architecture and historic ambiance, provided a beautiful backdrop, even if the performance didn't live up to it.

Featuring myself and Magnus, these photos capture a moment of shared experience and friendship. Despite the disappointing show, we enjoyed our time together, laughing about the absurdity of it all later on.

The emotions in these photos range from excitement and anticipation to frustration and amusement. The Royal Opera's rare venture into musical theatre was a bold move, even if it didn't pay off this time. Sitting in the front row was a unique experience, providing an up-close view of the orchestra and the stage.

These photos are meaningful to me because they remind me of the importance of shared experiences, even when they don't go as planned. Magnus and I have been friends for years, and this night added another chapter to our story of theatre adventures.

#TheatreLovers #SondheimFans #NightOut #OperaExperience #SharedMemories #StockholmCulture #VännerFörAlltid #TeaterLiv #KulturNatt