Artelize - Stuttgart's Operatic Spectacle: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity
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Stuttgart's Operatic Spectacle: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity

The Staatsoper Stuttgart is set to dazzle audiences with a captivating blend of opera, jazz, and hip-hop, featuring classic and contemporary performances. From the enchanting tale of 'The Robber Hotzenplotz' to the gritty realism of 'Otello,' this season promises a feast for the senses. Highlighting cultural narratives and artistic mastery, these performances push the boundaries of traditional opera while paying homage to the greats like Mozart and Verdi. Join us in exploring the artistic tapestry woven by talented performers and visionary directors.

Jun 6, 2025
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1. The Robber Hotzen­plotz
Who has not heard of the robber Hotzenplotz? He first steals grandmother's new coffee grinder which plays such beautiful music whilst grinding. Then Hotzenplotz lures Seppel and Kasperl into a trap taking them both prisoners. What’s more, the villain then sells poor Kasperl to the great and evil magician Petrosilius Zwackelmann – or is it Seppel he is selling? It does not matter. In any case, it takes a fair amount of courage, magic and the combined help by the audience to rescue the two friends. Composer Sebastian Schwab has newly composed Otfried Preußler's enchanting story as a Singspiel for the ensemble of the Staatsoper Stuttgart in time for Preußler’s 100th birthday - with coffee mill and, of course, 7 knives.
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Feb 16 - Jun 20, 2025
Staatsoper Stuttgart

Stuttgart · The Staatstheater Stuttgart

2. Otello
Attractive because repulsive - that’s one way to describe the contradictory fascination potential of William Shakespeare’s most enigmatic character, Othello. He probably could not have existed at the time of his creation: Black, a stranger, yet risen to the top of Venetian society through merit and spectacular eloquence, he marries the beautiful Desdemona.
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May 18 - Jul 18, 2025
Staatsoper Stuttgart

Stuttgart · The Staatstheater Stuttgart

3. Der Rote Wal
When the beach lies beneath the pavement, as it was often said in the past, it is not far to the sea. Gladis, the protagonist of this opera, follows the opposite direction, from the sea to the pavement. Gladis is an orca. And she wants to break what she breaks. Cruise ships, superyachts, that sort of thing. On her quest for revenge, she meets Lone, who promises her human form for 24 hours and demands one of her fins as a reward. On the pavement, she meets Abad and Ge, an urban guerrilla, schoolchildren on a museum visit to Stammheim. Gladis gets caught between the fronts and questions arise: Does the end justify the means? What remains when every truth is distorted? And if you can't fight violence peacefully, is militancy the last resort left to us all? But or because this is a fairy tale, the kiss of true love can free Gladis from everything in between.
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Jun 18 - Jul 22, 2025
Staatsoper Stuttgart

Stuttgart · The Staatstheater Stuttgart

4. Zaide
Not all great works are completed: in 1781, the year of the premiere of his Idomeneo , WA Mozart broke off work on his “serious German Singspiel” Zaide , the first attempt at an exoticizing “Turkish opera”, which was followed by the “ light-hearted” Abduction from the Seraglio . But what exactly does “the Turkish” want in it and where does it come from? (Certainly not from Turkey!) Director Jessica Glause uses the surviving Zaide material in Ludwigsburg's Schlosstheater to ask who actually formulates an “us and the others” against the backdrop of which tradition. The history of European musical theater is closely interwoven with the justifying legends of colonialism and racism, ie the arbitrary division of humanity into superior and inferior. Cultures represented as “foreign” through the supposedly neutral standard of the Central European lens have thus been projected into weak, sexualized female figures or despotic ragers again and again over four centuries.
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Jun 22 - Jul 12, 2025
Staatsoper Stuttgart

Ludwigsburg · Ludwigsburg Palace

5. XATAR feat. Heavytones
Gangsta rap and a studio band on the opera stage? Are you kidding me? No, it's great! XATAR, German rapper, entrepreneur, publisher and producer, whose life story has just been filmed by director Fatih Akin under the title Rheingold, features the instrumental band Heavytones, well-known from many TV formats. Both acts share a great passion for jazz and, by their own admission, there was "quite a spark" at their first meeting.
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Jun 28, 2025
Staatsoper Stuttgart

Stuttgart · The Staatstheater Stuttgart

6. The Littmann-Sessions: A Pop Gala
For one evening, the Pop Bureau makes the incredible range of the regional music scene tangible in the opera house. At live concerts of the current Pop fellows on the big stage in the opera house - the so-called Littmann Building - experimental sounds, moving rhythms and stirring basses shine in a new guise!
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Jul 5, 2025
Staatsoper Stuttgart

Stuttgart · The Staatstheater Stuttgart

7. 7. Symphony Concert
With Gustav Mahler's monumental Eighth Symphony, Cornelius Meister and the State Orchestra continue their Mahler cycle and, together with eight vocal soloists, the children's choir and the State Opera Choir, bring the symphony concert series to a crowning conclusion. Shortly after completing the score, Mahler said in 1907: "The symphony must be like the world. It must encompass everything". This central credo for Mahler is reflected in the variety of forms and musical characters of his Eighth Symphony. Baroque fugue techniques can be found in it as well as a tonal language influenced by Richard Wagner. The first and only two performances during his lifetime were Mahler's greatest triumph. After the premiere in 1910, Thomas Mann commented that Mahler embodied "the most serious and sacred artistic will of our time".
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13 - 14 Jul, 2025
Staatsorchester Stuttgart

Stuttgart · Beethoven Hall (Beethovensaal)

8. Rigoletto
Rigoletto wants to protect his daughter by all means from the advances of the hated, encroaching Duke - but in the end he is struck by the tragic realization that his revenge has failed most horribly: instead of the Duke, his own daughter has fallen victim to him. Tenor Kai Kluge makes his debut as the Duke of Mantua, while Beate Ritter once again takes on the role of Gilda after the acclaimed series in the 2018/19 season. Devid Cecconi sings the title role. The young, internationally acclaimed Italian-Turkish conductor Nil Venditti is at the podium of the Staatsorchester Stuttgart.
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19 - 21 Jul, 2025
Staatsoper Stuttgart

Stuttgart · The Staatstheater Stuttgart

9. Opera meets HipHop
Local zeitgeist meets classical high culture - you can be curious! This year, the HipHop Open Festival presents a unique event: "Opera meets HipHop". The event combines classical opera setting with modern hip-hop to create an innovative and rousing musical performance. The audience* will be taken on a musical journey that breaks the boundaries of genre and style. An event not to be missed!
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Jul 23, 2025
Staatsoper Stuttgart

Stuttgart · The Staatstheater Stuttgart

Conclusion
The Staatsoper Stuttgart's season is a testament to the enduring power and adaptability of opera. By embracing both classical and contemporary elements, these performances not only preserve the rich traditions of the art form but also invite new audiences to explore its depths. The innovative collaborations and thought-provoking narratives challenge audiences to reflect on cultural and societal themes, making this season an unmissable experience for lovers of music and storytelling. Whether you're drawn to the whimsy of 'The Robber Hotzenplotz' or the powerful drama of 'Otello,' the Staatsoper Stuttgart offers a thrilling journey into the world of opera.
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