Set Designer

Director

The relationship between Cio-Cio-San, called »Butterfly«, and US American marine officer Benjamin F. Pinkerton begins as a proforma wedding – with unexpected consequences: the young Japanese woman cuts herself off from her family, hoping to leave her impoverished origins behind; Pinkerton, on the other hand, despite his overwhelming desires, doesn’t feel committed to this »provisional marriage«. When he’s ordered home Cio-Cio-San’s left behind, expecting his baby. She waits unwaveringly for his return; her only rock is her faithful servant Suzuki. But when Pinkerton’s ship re-docks in Nagasaki, the illusion shatters: He married another woman in America. When Butterfly realises they intend to take her child as well, she sees no other way out; she commits ritual suicide, as her father before her. Doing away with superficial clichés, the director R.B. Schlather focuses on the human tragedy, for which Puccini, Master of Melody found such heart-rending music.

EPSG:4326

Madama Butterfly

Oper Frankfurt

Introductory talks (in German) in the Holzfoyer 30 minutes before curtain up, available here shortly after opening night and everywhere where podcasts are to be found.

Amor vien dal destino

A daring Prince, a beautiful Princess, and an evil Queen–a fairy tale love story with unimaginable trials along the way. Mozart’s final opera, The Magic Flute, contains some of opera’s most memorable melodies and roles, including The Queen of the Night and her famous high notes! Sorcery, a dragon, and long-held secrets challenge our hero and heroine on their quest for wisdom and enlightenment.

Mozart’s The Magic Flute

Brockman Hall For Opera

Samuel Barber is one of the most celebrated American composers of the twentieth century, and Vanessa was a hit upon arrival at the Metropolitan Opera in 1958 and won the Pulitzer. It could have remained in the canon as one of the great American operas of all time, but its unique brand of gothic creep and fiercely emotional music did not jive with the overly-academic tastes of the time, and over the following decades the piece receded into near-obscurity. Together with director R.B. Schlather, we have planned a reinvention of this classic, stripping away the gewgaws and doilies of its original imaginings, and allowing the riveting extremes of these palpable characters to break through. Heartbeat's version, adapted by Jacob Ashworth, pares the work down to five singers, trapped inside their own circumstances, with a new arrangement by Dan Schlosberg.

Vanessa 

Williamstown Theatre Festival

What Macbeth thinks are prophesies are expressions of his own suppressed dreams and fears. Goaded on by his wife, who’s no less ambitious, he commits murder, which leads to more murders, creating a gruesome system of oppression. But the tyrant Macbeth and his wife are plagued by pangs of conscience. They’re both psychologically shattered - in different ways. In the end, the oppressed populace rebel, putting an end to an unjust regime.

In a domestic setting surrounding this childless, murderous couple, mechanisms of violent rule become apparent that can be found on a larger scale: World politics are reflected in a private sphere. From this perspective the story of a medieval Scottish despot seems frighteningly relevant today.

Macbeth

A thought-provoking double bill pairs works written nearly three hundred years apart, each exploring remarkable women and timeless themes that remain all too relevant today. 

The journey begins with one of opera’s earliest masterpieces, Purcell’s poignant Dido and Aeneas, which recounts the tragic love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and Trojan hero Aeneas. It's a union compelled by political alliance, ignited by undeniable passion, and thwarted by sorcery and duplicity. 

Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas & Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia

Samuel Barber is one of the most celebrated American composers of the twentieth century, and VANESSA was a hit upon arrival at the Metropolitan Opera in 1958, subsequently winning the Pulitzer Prize in Music. It could have remained in the canon as one of the great American operas, but its unique brand of gothic creep and fiercely emotional music clashed with the overly-academic tastes of the time. Over the following decades, the piece receded into near-obscurity. Together with director R.B. Schlather, Heartbeat Opera strips away the gewgaws and doilies of its original imaginings, allowing the riveting extremes of these palpable characters to break through. This reinvention, adapted by Jacob Ashworth with a new arrangement by Dan Schlosberg, pares the work down to five singers, hopelessly trapped inside their own circumstances.

Set Designer, Director

R.B. Schlather

Events

Upcoming events

Jan 25 - Feb 28, 2026

Amor vien dal destino · Oper Frankfurt

Feb 6 - Mar 20, 2026

Madama Butterfly · Oper Frankfurt

12 - 31 May, 2026

Vanessa · Heartbeat Opera

Past events

Feb 6 - Mar 20, 2026

Madama Butterfly · Oper Frankfurt

Jan 25 - Feb 28, 2026

Amor vien dal destino · Oper Frankfurt

About

R.B. Schlather hasn't added a bio