This opera, which Puccini himself considered his favorite and best work, moves everyone who hears it. In the summer of 1900, Puccini saw David Belasco’s theater piece »Madame Butterfly« in a London Theater, and was indelibly touched. It was a tragic story of very human proportions, coupled with an old-fashioned dose of Far East exoticism. As Belasco did, Puccini set his opera in the present, in the year 1904, the year of its world premiere. The strict rules and customs of Japanese society are confronted by the western world, in the form of the American marine lieutenant Pinkerton. For him, his fictitious marriage with the young geisha Cio-Cio San, also called »Butterfly«, is nothing more than an exotic romantic adventure. For her, though, it is the chance of a lifetime: Fascinated by the notion of the different, freer world that her lover could give her, she’s ready to break with everything she’s ever known. She believes steadfastly that Pinkerton will return to her, even long after he has left Japan. And when he finally does return, after three years, it spells disaster.

Madama Butterfly

Oper Leipzig

It was perhaps the first oratorio concert and also the first classical open-air concert in post-war Germany. Almost a year before their official founding, on July 29, 1945, the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, under the name Konzertgesellschaft, performed Haydn's oratorio The Creation with the Nuremberg Teachers' Choir (LGV) in the ruins of St. Sebaldus Church, which was missing its roof and spires. The vocal soloists came from the opera house, and the conductor was Karl Demmer, then head of the LGV. It was like a dawn from darkness into light. In commemoration of this legendary event, The Creation is on the program of our double concert in March 2026. Also performing: a top-class solo ensemble and the Nuremberg Concert Choirs. Chief Conductor Jonathan Darlington will be conducting.

80 Years Of Nsym: Haydn's Creation

Meistersinger Hall

Two things must be known about Undines, aquatic beings in feminine form; first, they can only attain an immortal soul by marrying an earthly man. Second, if Undine's love is betrayed, she must kill the unfaithful man. When the knight Hugo falls in love with Undine, it seems that happiness is perfect at last, the wedding bells ring, the village rejoices and celebrates. But then Bertalda appears and the lake's water level ominously begins to rise.

Undine

### Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony Announce New Opera on Loving v. Virginia

The Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony have announced a groundbreaking new opera centered on the historic United States Supreme Court case, Loving v. Virginia. This operatic retelling will premiere as part of Virginia Opera’s 50th Anniversary Season in 2025. The opera will be composed by Damien Geter with a libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo.

**Event Highlights:**
- **Premiere Date:** 2025
- **Venues:** Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, Dominion Energy Center in Richmond, and Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax.
- **Composer:** Damien Geter
- **Librettist:** Jessica Murphy Moo

**Background:**
Loving v. Virginia was a landmark civil rights decision by the United States Supreme Court, which invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage. The case was brought by Mildred and Richard Loving, who were sentenced to prison in 1958 for marrying each other, a union that was illegal in Virginia due to the Racial Integrity Act of 1924. Their conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1967, a decision that has had lasting impacts on civil rights and was cited in the 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage.

**Statements from Key Figures:**
- **Damien Geter, Composer:** Emphasized the personal significance of the case and the importance of telling the Lovings' story to honor their legacy and advance the art form.
- **Jessica Murphy Moo, Librettist:** Highlighted the inspirational nature of the Lovings' story and its relevance to themes of equality, home, and love in opera.
- **Adam Turner, Artistic Director of Virginia Opera:** Expressed excitement about featuring a Virginia story and a Virginia composer for the 50th Anniversary.
- **Peggy Kriha Dye, General Director and CEO of Virginia Opera:** Spoke about the opera's role in promoting equality and the collaboration with Richmond Symphony and the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU.
- **Lacey Huszcza, Executive Director of Richmond Symphony:** Stressed the importance of the Lovings' story for equality and social justice, and the alignment of missions between the Symphony and Virginia Opera.

**Development and Support:**
The project will be supported by a series of workshops starting in November 2022, focusing on the libretto, vocal writing, orchestral score, and production design. Early support has been received from OPERA America’s 2022 Repertoire Development Grant, with additional funding from corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Individuals can support the project by joining the Commissioning Club, which offers special access to workshops and the creative team.

**Contact Information:**
- **Virginia Opera:** Amanda J. Ely, Director of Marketing, amanda.ely@vaopera.org, 757-627-9545 ext. 3322
- **Richmond Symphony:** Sara Hunt, Public Relations, sarahuntpr@gmail.com

This new opera aims to celebrate the Lovings' contribution to racial justice and ensure their story resonates with future generations.

EPSG:4326

Loving v. Virginia

George Mason University

Dominion Energy Center

Harrison Opera House

The opera has barely gotten underway before the first death occurs and Don Giovanni is in hot pursuit. But this does not stop the seducer of all seducers from going after the next woman: he adores them all! His wildly colourful exploits sweep him through all social strata, regardless to whether the lady of choice is already involved with someone else. Even if one may have slight doubts when it comes to the total number of his conquests – 1470! – Don Giovanni's appeal amongst women is undeniable. But what exactly is his secret?

Don Giovanni

We've all been there: in hotels, you're always fascinated by people from all over the world and their customs! And when this motley crew find themselves in a tizzy because they all want to go to Paris for the coronation but are prevented from doing so by the transportation system? And when the Hotel zur Goldenen Lilie is run by an excellent proprietor like Madame Cortese, who is determined to make her guests' stay unforgettable, virtuoso, colorful entertainment is guaranteed. Love potions, deft personnel, fainting spells due to a missing hatbox, f librations and misunderstandings culminate in a banquet with international toasts: long live the monarch and long live international understanding!

The Journey to Reims

La Traviata is the final work in the Trilogia Popolare, Verdi’s trio of masterpieces written between 1850-52. Once again, he was inspired by an outsider: after the jester in Rigoletto and the gypsy Azucena in Il Trovatore, the courtesan Violetta Valéry -- a woman whose charm surpasses her predecessors -- takes center stage here. The Parisian demimonde is the setting for the story of the unconditional and hopeless love between Alfredo Germont and the terminally ill Violetta. From the very beginning, their love is threatened not only by death, but also by the norms of the society and the honor of a family.

La Traviata

The brave knight Amadis is held responsible for the disappearance of the brother of Arcabonne and Arcalaus. The two use their magical powers and mobilize the demonic underworld to lure Amadis into their realm and defeat him once and for all. Suddenly, nothing is as it seems: Amadis is abandoned in the forest by his beloved Princess Oriane and held captive in Arcalau's secret laboratory. All seems lost... but fortunately the powers of heaven have something to say about it.

Amadis, the Knight

Welcome to the mysterious fairy-tale world of the »Magic Flute«! Even the names of the characters sound magical and remind us of our first visits to the opera: Tamino, Pamina, Papageno, Sarastro … Hardly any other work of opera literature includes so many contradictory elements, so harmoniously combined into a coherent entity by Mozart's music . Is his arguably most popular opera an adventure story about growing up? A parable of wisdom, philosophy and friendship? Is it simply about staying true to oneself, like the bird catcher Papageno? He accompanies Prince Tamino, who has fallen in love with a picture of the kidnapped Pamina and plans to free her. We are reminded that the world cannot always be divided into good and evil: the Queen of the Night and Sarastro illustrate this to us through their quarrel over Pamina. On our journey we are also accompanied by three ladies, three boys, a glockenspiel, and a flute that tames even the wildest animals.

Jonathan Michie

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 30, 2026

Undine · Oper Leipzig

Past events

Mar 20 - Apr 5, 2026

Madama Butterfly · Oper Leipzig

14 - 15 Mar, 2026

80 Years Of Nsym: Haydn's Creation · Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Papageno in The Magic Flute by Mozart

Oper Leipzig

Barone Douphol in La traviata by Verdi

Oper Leipzig

Sharpless in Madama Butterfly by Puccini

Oper Leipzig

Singer in The Creation by Haydn

Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra

Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni by Mozart

Oper Leipzig

Kühleborn in Undine by Dvořák

Oper Leipzig

Kühleborn in Undine by Lortzing

Oper Leipzig

About

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