1991
The vision of Dalhalla was awakened during Pentecost in 1991. Margareta Dellefors, a former opera singer and radio producer who had long been searching for a summer festival venue, and Åsa Nyman, the former cultural director of Rättvik, “discovered” the abandoned limestone quarry. The location was ideal, far from any settlements and well shielded from disruptive noise from traffic and industry. The site itself was an experience for the eyes and ears, resembling a stage, Valhalla, drawn from Wagner’s world, in Dalarna – hence the name Dalhalla.
1993
In June, a very successful trial concert was held with invited audience, press, and TV. In August of the same year, the association “Friends of Dalhalla” was formed.
1994
On July 23rd, the first concert took place. Birgit Nilsson, the honorary chairperson of Dalhalla’s Friends, fired the starting shot.
1995
The audience capacity was expanded to 2600 seats. Parking lots adjacent to the quarry were completed, and a protected walkway down to the audience area was finished. The official inauguration of Dalhalla took place on June 21, 1995, with a grand opera concert. Swedish Television broadcasted the concert, and Dalhalla became known throughout the country. Foreign press also covered the event.
During the summer, a few events were held, some by renting the venue to artists who independently organized concerts.
1996
The association “Friends of Dalhalla” formed a subsidiary, Dalhalla Production AB, which took over responsibility for the operations. Dalhalla’s first CEO was hired.
The first trial performance of opera, featuring short scenes from Wagner’s “Ring of the Nibelung,” took place. The performance was a great success, even internationally. The number of programs during the summer was expanded.
1998
Håkan Ivarson was hired part-time as CEO and combined the role (for 3 years) with continuing as County Music Director for Music in Dalarna (MiD). Administration was expanded in collaboration with MiD, including a joint finance and marketing department. The first international opera collaboration, with the Latvian National Opera in Riga and “Nabucco,” was carried out. Dalhalla celebrated its 5th anniversary with an opera concert featuring Håkan Hagegård and others. The company Clas Ohlson celebrated 80 years with, among other things, a joint event in Dalhalla. The first concert with Rhapsody in Rock was held, and the high demand for tickets led to the concert being doubled. A large portion of visitors had to park their cars at Kullsberg’s limestone quarry and then take a bus back and forth from the arena.
1999
Dalhalla Opera Festival was initiated, featuring five different productions: Masquerade, Nabucco, Turandot, Wagner’s Ring in a compact version, and an opera concert with the Royal Opera. Dalhalla presented a children’s opera for the first time: “Pelle Svanslös” (Peter-No-Tail). World-renowned tenor José Cura visited Dalhalla.
The season comprised 28 different events. During the autumn, Dalhalla’s stage and artist area were renovated, and on New Year’s Eve 1999, the new millennium was celebrated with a grand event in Dalhalla, including performances by a figure skating group with several ice numbers on the polished surface of Dalhalla Lake.
2000
The audience section was expanded to 4000 seats, and the new stage area was completed, including an orchestra pit and larger artist spaces. At a gala concert on June 7th, the new investment was inaugurated in the presence of the King and Queen. An anticipated collaboration with the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland began with the performance of “The Power of Fate.”
2001
Håkan Ivarson left his position as county music director to become CEO full-time at Dalhalla. The synergy with MiD in administration ceased, and instead, Dalhalla invested in its own administration.
The collaboration with Savonlinna continued with the performance of “Macbeth,” and the Estonian National Opera made its debut with “La Traviata.” The demand for Rhapsody in Rock increased each year, and during the summer, 8 concerts were held to sold-out crowds!
2002
José Cura returned and gave a celebrated concert despite having a cold and voice issues. The Manhattan Transfer visited Dalhalla and held 2 well-attended concerts.
2003
Malmö Opera and Music Theatre performed “Aida” and set an opera attendance record in Dalhalla with 2 sold-out shows, attracting over 8000 visitors. The Friends of Dalhalla association celebrated its 10th anniversary with a festive concert where Margareta Dellefors was honored for her role as the founder of Dalhalla.
2004
Dalhalla’s opera festival expanded to 6 performances across 3 different productions: New York Harlem Theatre presented “Porgy and Bess,” and “Cavalleria Rusticana/Pajazzo,” “La Bohème,” and “Eugen Onegin” were performed.
Stefan Sköld, former chief of Malmö Opera, was engaged as the new artistic director for Dalhalla’s opera activities, tasked with planning opera in Dalhalla from 2005 onwards. Dalhalla produced its own show based on Jan Guillou’s Arn trilogy, titled “Arn – A Musical Adventure,” and one of Ireland’s most successful bands, The Chieftains, visited with a highly appreciated concert.
2005
The prestigious Bolshoi Theatre from Moscow, one of the world’s five largest opera houses, visited Sweden and Dalhalla for the first time with “Turandot” and an opera concert featuring 280 participants! Investments continued with new toilets, road improvements, parking facilities, and lighting.
2006
Rhapsody in Rock became the “house band” at the arena, foregoing touring in Sweden to perform 15 specially adapted concerts – all sold out! More international artists than ever visited Dalhalla, including The Norwegian Opera (Peer Gynt) and the Georgian National Opera (Il Trovatore), Sigur Rós, Diana Krall, Dwight Yoakam, and The Hollies. A Tattoo event was held, and P-Floyd performed in Dalhalla for the first time. Dalhalla set an attendance record with 108,000 visitors! Margareta Dellefors was appointed honorary chairperson of the Friends of Dalhalla association and was honored with a bust in Dalhalla for her contributions.
2007
The Friends of Dalhalla association formed a new company, Dalhalla Förvaltning AB (DFAB), to broaden ownership of the arena. The municipalities around Lake Siljan, Dalarna County Council, and four private stakeholders became new shareholders in the arena company DFAB, which leases the arena to Dalhalla AB (formerly Dalhalla Production AB).
The Estonian National Opera performed “Carmen” and “Rigoletto.” A magic show was presented for the first time featuring Joe Labero, and Björn Skifs held 3 nearly sold-out concerts in a collaboration between Dalhalla AB and Music at Siljan.
2008
On May 17th, 25 cm of snow fell in Dalhalla! The fabric roof over the stage, newly installed for the season and unable to bear the snow load, risked collapsing and potentially damaging the stage area. Quick action with snow removal saved the situation… The DFAB board immediately began work to find a new roof structure capable of withstanding snow and thus being in place year-round. Dalhalla Opera presented “Madame Butterfly,” “Otello,” and “Carmina Burana.”
Rhapsody in Rock, which had performed concerts in Dalhalla for nearly every season, held its 50th sold-out concert, meaning over 200,000 visitors experienced Robert Wells in Dalhalla! For this outstanding achievement, Wells received a small copper plaque from Dalhalla with an engraved inscription.
2009 – A Milestone
With increased public funding and other project grants, Dalhalla could finally produce its own opera, the first since 1999. Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” was performed to fully utilize the arena’s capabilities, with several different stages outside the stage area and spectacular effects. The endeavor was a greater success than expected, with over 15,000 visitors attending 4 performances. An amazing attendance record for an opera at Dalhalla!
A new permanent stage roof replaced the old sailcloth before the season, creating entirely new technical possibilities for the various events. Dalhalla can now also plan events at times other than the summer months, and on December 12th of this year, the premiere of the Christmas Concert with Christmas Market took place.
2010
The new roof proved to be a resounding success! It also brought entirely new technical possibilities, such as enhanced lighting and a water curtain. At the final concert, a new gigantic waterfall (from ground level down to the lake) was presented, enhancing the experience of Dalhalla as a unique and majestic venue.
2011
World-class artists performed exclusive concerts at Dalhalla. Legend Dionne Warwick delivered “a magic moment” in true Bacharach spirit. Paul Potts left the stage moved to tears. British pianist and singer Jamie Cullum created a choir atmosphere with the entire Dalhalla audience. Bryan Ferry impressed with a fantastic high-quality show.
2012
International world-class artists and bands like James Morrison, John Fogerty, Simple Minds, Norah Jones, and Tom Jones, with Dalhalla as their only Sweden venue, delivered fantastic performances this summer. This solidified Dalhalla’s status as a prominent international venue. For the fourth consecutive year, popular Malena Ernman held two concerts to full audiences.
2013
A record-breaking start to July with three major concerts by Toto, Sting, and Ulf Lundell. Over 10,000 people visited Dalhalla that week, many attending all three concerts. Patti Smith, Melody Gardot, and Earth, Wind & Fire Experience touched the audience’s hearts with their personal, emotionally charged, and nostalgic concerts. For the fifth consecutive year, Malena Ernman held two concerts to full audiences. Diggiloo drew full houses for the third consecutive year. Night of Queen, a beloved return to Dalhalla, was a total success.
2014
Attendance record – 60,000 people visited Dalhalla during the summer, a 50% increase compared to recent years. ChorusNight with 300 choir singers kicked off the season, magnificent and beautiful. Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant, with The Sensational Space Shifters, mixed Led Zeppelin hits and new songs. The Beach Boys skillfully surfed through decades of hits. “Chess in Concert” by Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, and Björn Ulvaeus, a world-famous and 30-year anniversary concert, was exclusively arranged for Dalhalla. Scorpions had their only Sweden performance, and the new standing section was used for the first time. For the sixth consecutive year, Malena Ernman held two concerts to full audiences. 13,500 people came to see Diggiloo and Björn Skifs. On July 23, Dalhalla celebrated its 20th anniversary. World tenor José Carreras, along with the Stockholm Concert Orchestra, performed gems from opera, operetta, and musicals – magical! Kraftwerk’s 3-D show was fully realized. Tomas Ledin and Höga Kusten Kapellet were in top form. P-Floyd once again proved their mastery of captivating audiences. A three-hour music experience with lighting and technical effects never seen before at Dalhalla. First Aid Kit performed for the first time ever in Dalarna, in front of a sold-out Dalhalla. Season finale with the traditional Fireworks Concert. Janne Åström, Louise Hoffsten, and Magnus Tingsek created a lovely atmosphere. DalaSinfoniettan accompanied skillfully under the direction of conductor Jonas Nydesjö. Fireworks soloist Eje Berglund set off a magnificent fireworks display to the tunes of Chess.
2015
55,000 people attended Dalhalla for a concert during the summer, an increase compared to the previous season’s attendance numbers. With an average of 3,235 people per concert, it’s now a new attendance record at Dalhalla.
Some highlights of the summer:
Caroline af Ugglas with guest artists opened the season with 1300 choir singers on stage, a unique performance with so many singers. Carola, as always, delivered a high-quality concert. 14,000 people came over three days to see the immensely popular Malena Ernman, setting a attendance record for a single concert. Roxette ended their Sweden tour with a professional performance in front of a full house. For the first time, Into The Valley, a two-day electronic music festival, was held. The festival also attracted a large number of foreign visitors and was incredibly well-received. Season finale with the traditional Fireworks Concert. Nina Persson, Linnea Henriksson, and Magnus Carlson created a magical atmosphere, and DalaSinfoniettan accompanied skillfully under the direction of conductor Jonas Nydesjö. Fireworks master, Eje Berglund, fired off a magnificent fireworks display.
2016
Another fantastic season at Dalhalla has concluded, setting a new attendance record. 70,000 people visited Dalhalla this summer. This is an increase of 30,000 people since 2012 when the arena was visited by 40,000 people.
On September 10th, the season ended with the traditional Fireworks Concert. Carola, Eric Gadd, and Magnus Tingsek, as this year’s guest artists, provided a fine and musical backdrop together with the Stockholm Concert Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jonas Nydesjö. Neil Young, with his only Sweden performance in Dalhalla, delivered almost three hours of magic in front of a full house.
On July 18th, ZZ TOP held one of their two only Sweden performances in Dalhalla. Nearly 5,400 people came to see the concert, setting yet another attendance record for Dalhalla for a single concert.
Other highlights of the summer’s program include Mando Diao, who stood on Dalhalla’s stage for the first time. A concert they tailored entirely for the arena. 4800 people came to see hugely popular and beloved Jill Johnson. P-Floyd with their fantastic and spectacular 10-year anniversary show didn’t hold back. The Tallest Man On Earth, a highly anticipated booking, delivered a fantastic concert.
2017
Another Dalhalla season has concluded, setting a new attendance record. Polar Prize winner Sting opened the season with another fantastic concert and also set a new attendance record, with 5,483 people coming to experience Sting’s only concert in Sweden. A new attendance record was then set by Takida and Stiftelsen, a magnificent concert evening that attracted 5653 people. The average attendance has increased significantly, showing a high demand. The combination of the artist, the unique arena, and the acoustics make Dalhalla a natural choice for a concert during the summer. A total of 74,000 people visited Dalhalla this summer.
On September 2nd, the season ended with the traditional Fireworks Concert. Ola Salo, Måns Zelmerlöw, and Linnea Olsson, as this year’s guest artists, provided a beautiful, grand, and musical backdrop together with DalaSinfoniettan under the direction of conductor Jonas Nydesjö. Other highlights of the summer’s program include Laleh, who completely captivated the audience. Malena Ernman and Helen Sjöholm in a perfect combination. Jerry Williams at his absolute best. Emmylou Harris, who created a warm and lovely atmosphere. Pet Shop Boys delivered a spectacular concert of the highest quality throughout.
2018
On September 1st, Dalhalla’s season ended with the traditional Fireworks Concert. Artists Titiyo and Magnus Carlson, DalaSinfoniettan under the direction of conductor Jonas Nydesjö, and fireworks master Eje Berglund created magic on the warm late summer evening. During the summer, Dalhalla had 93,000 visitors, a 25% increase compared to 2017.
Highlights of the summer’s program include Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Malena Ernman, GES, Björk, First Aid Kit, Moraeus in Dalhalla (a welcome return), Deep Purple, Lars Winnerbäck, and Sven-Ingvars with guests.
2019
The attendance record was broken twice during the summer of 2019! First, Gyllene Tider attracted the most visitors, but later in the summer, the trio The Hives, Mando Diao & The Sounds broke all previous records! With 6020 visitors in one evening and a total of 12,000 visitors over the two evenings they played in Dalhalla, they created a sensation. Another well-attended trio’s concert was Seinabo Sey, Timbuktu & Damn! and Oskar Linnros. Several major international artists visited; Ms. Lauren Hill, Iggy Pop, New Order, and John Fogerty, all creating memorable experiences.
2020
Covid-19 has the world in a stranglehold, and strict restrictions make it difficult to hold events. Travel restrictions are introduced, the maximum number of people in the audience during the summer is 50, and everyone is encouraged to maintain social distance. Creative ideas are born, and Dalhalla creates new events, inviting both Hemester and Dalhalla scenery.
During Hemester in Dalhalla, a limited number of visitors are allowed to drive down with their own motorhomes and stay overnight in the limestone quarry. It’s an exclusive evening with a three-course dinner in the restaurant and the opportunity to visit the artist’s house and swim in the turquoise water, something that only the artists usually get to do. It becomes very popular! In August, Dalhalla scenery is held for the first time, an intimate concert where the audience meets the artist on Dalhalla’s stage. The concerts with only 50 attendees feature artists such as Robert Wells, Malena Ernman, Magnus Carlsson, and Petter, and the last date is as late as November.
2021
Restrictions due to the pandemic continued, and at the beginning of the summer, the maximum number of attendees was set at 500, which later increased to 3000 before the restrictions were completely lifted in early September. Some of the concerts scheduled for 2020 are postponed for another year until 2022.
Dalhalla continues to offer its popular Hemester offer in both June and July, and many motorhome owners drive down to the arena to stay overnight. Concerts are also held, albeit with a limited number of attendees. Among others, P-Floyd, Tallest Man on Earth, and Måns Zelmerlöw perform. Woodstock Dalhalla and Rhapsody in Rock are divided into several dates to be carried out.
Looking ahead, in the early summer, new concerts for 2022 begin to be released with hopes of lifted restrictions.
2022
The first season after all restrictions from the corona pandemic are lifted starts with a bang, with a sold-out arena and brilliant sunshine when the rock legends Judas Priest take the stage on June 11th. Ticket buyers have been waiting since 2019 to attend a concert as all performances have been postponed, but now they can finally be held! A total of 116,000 people visit Dalhalla this season, of which 12,000 see the musical Kristina från Duvemåla. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ music fits perfectly with the backdrop of the limestone quarry, Diggiloo creates joy during two summer evenings in mid-July, and The Ark puts on a fantastic performance despite heavy rain. On July 1st, Dalhalla’s glamping premieres, allowing visitors to stay overnight, sleep in glamping tents with hotel standards, and enjoy breakfast delivered directly to the tent. The new VIP area is inaugurated with a new sail roof, new furniture, and a more cozy environment. During the season, the motorhome parking are redesigned and expanded to accommodate over 200 motorhomes or caravans. Weeping Willows and friends end the season on September 17th during a magical evening when fires light up Dalhalla in the autumn darkness.
2023
The season started in May with a concert performed by the cultural and music schools in Dalarna, where nearly 400 students took the stage. Bon Iver then visited Dalhalla and performed a magical concert, their only performance in Sweden, to a full arena. The season was topped by several sold-out concerts, including two evenings with Gyllene Tider and one evening with Benjamin Ingrosso, which was also recorded by TV4. KISS held their last performances in Sweden at Dalhalla on July 12th and 13th, setting a new attendance record with 6156 people on the first night. In total, over 12,300 people saw KISS at Dalhalla.
Other highlights during the summer included Johan Glans performing stand-up on Dalhalla’s stage and Carola making an entrance in high heels on a SUP board. Kite visited the arena in September and offered an unforgettable concert both musically and visually. Fond reunions included Robert Wells celebrating 25 years with Rhapsody in Rock and P-Floyd’s spectacular show for their 30th anniversary.
Dalhalla’s food court has been renovated, with the old tents replaced by containers, which is both better for the staff and gives a nicer impression of the entire Dalhalla. Glamping is also expanded for the season, and there are now 30 glamping tents.
In total, 129,000 people visited Dalhalla in 2023, the highest attendance to date.
Rättvik Event AB
Backavägen 41
795 32 Rättvik