Religion and capitalism collide in this sharp, jazz-infused musical comedy by Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, and Elisabeth Hauptmann. Banned after just two performances in 1929 Berlin, Happy End is a satire of big business and big religion set in a smoky speakeasy where gangsters do deals and the Salvation Army saves souls. With an unforgettable score that includes “Bilbao Song,” “Mandalay Song,” and “Surabaya Johnny,” Happy End blazes with wit, grit, and dark glamour.

Happy End

Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House

Journey back to the very beginnings of opera to witness two medieval knights locked in mortal combat! Extracts from Monteverdi’s masterful Eighth Book of Madrigals recount every detail of the battle with staggering freshness and pathos. Set to new choreography by Eric Sean Fogel and followed with a lively panel discussion, don’t miss this opportunity for a crucial conversation about how we interpret the tragedy, romance, and complex legacy of the Crusades in the 21st century.

Love & War

Alice Busch Opera Theater

Religion and capitalism collide in this sharp, jazz-infused musical satire by Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, and Elisabeth Hauptmann. Banned after just two performances in 1929 Berlin, Happy End is a satire of big business and big religion set in a smoky speakeasy where gangsters do deals, and the Salvation Army saves souls. With an unforgettable score that includes “Bilbao Song,” “Mandalay Song,” and “Surabaya Johnny,” Happy End blazes with wit, grit, and dark glamour.

Happy End will be music directed by Artistic & General Director Rob Ainsley, and feature Ana Karneža, a Juilliard drama graduate who won the Kurt Weill Foundation’s Lotte Lenya Competition in 2024. The production will be directed by Mary Birnbaum, General & Artistic Director of Opera Saratoga, in collaboration with Glimmerglass Festival Dramaturg Kelley Rourke. Happy End is presented as part of a historic new collaborative partnership between The Glimmerglass Festival, Opera Saratoga, Finger Lakes Opera, and the Seagle Festival, with 11 performances touring to eight venues across New York State and Western Massachusetts, and presented in the Glimmerglass Pavilion.

Alice Busch Opera Theater of Cooperstown 

Join Artist-in-Residence Kevin Burdette and Artistic & General Director Rob Ainsley as they take you on a journey inward. In this intimate presentation, Schubert’s great song cycle, Winterreise, will be framed by three companion pieces — performed by 2026 Resident Artists — that serve as musical bookends and reflection points along the journey. The result will be a richly layered evening of music that reflects on solitude, longing, and memory.

Rob Ainsley

Events

Upcoming events

28 - 31 Jul, 2026

Happy End · Glimmerglass Festival

Aug 3, 2026

The Road Home: Schubert's Winterreise · Glimmerglass Festival

Past events

May 29, 2026

Happy End · Hudson Hall

3 - 17 Aug, 2023

Love & War · Glimmerglass Festival

Future and recently performed repertoire

Piano in Winterreise by Schubert

Glimmerglass Festival

Conductor in Happy End by Brecht

Glimmerglass Festival

About

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