Choreographer

Is Carmen’s gaze only to be compared with that of a wild animal? The French writer Prosper Mérimée explored this question in his novella Carmen, which was the basis for Georges Bizet’s (1838-1875) final opera, which premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3 March 1875. Carmen’s air of seduction is both her weapon and her downfall, for in the end she dies at the hands of her jealous lover, Don José. Carmen refuses to be told what to do and certainly doesn’t want to be rescued by Don José in the shifting sands in front of the bullfighting arena. She prefers death to having her life decided by others. In the extremely popular and passionate “Habanera” aria, which is our first encounter with Carmen, she paints a picture of herself: “Love is a rebellious bird that none can tame.” Her indomitable desire for freedom is stamped in her DNA.

Carmen

Semperoper Dresden

La Fille du régiment, or the “regiment’s daughter”, is what they call the young Marie, who was found when just a child on the battlefield by soldiers. The troops commit to raising the evidently abandoned girl themselves. A young man of course must soon enter the scene and stir a special interest in her, and the secret of her origins will soon also be revealed. In the best tradition of French opéra comique, with his team of librettists, Gaetano Donizetti created a piece that in a truly original way combines Alpine idyll, patriotic enthusiasm and romantic love with comic situations and heightened conflicts. While Donizetti’s piece was at times extremely popular, the “regiment’s daughter” faded from favour somewhat in the 20th century. It can now be rediscovered, from the famous overture right through to the both amusing and cryptic music, in its first new production at the Bayerische Staatsoper in almost ninety years.

La Fille du régiment

Max-Joseph-Platz

This impactful opera is an experience unlike anything seen before at the Finnish National Opera. In an uprising on a farm, a group of animals overthrow their farmer’s tyrannical reign. Little by little, their new society begins to mirror human civilisation, and their original principles of equality are cast aside.

Animal Farm

Finnish National Opera and Ballet

La Fille du régiment, or the “regiment’s daughter”, is what they call the young Marie, who was found when just a child on the battlefield by soldiers. The troops commit to raising the evidently abandoned girl themselves. A young man of course must soon enter the scene and stir a special interest in her, and the secret of her origins will soon also be revealed. In the best tradition of French opéra comique, with his team of librettists, Gaetano Donizetti created a piece that in a truly original way combines Alpine idyll, patriotic enthusiasm and romantic love with comic situations and heightened conflicts. While Donizetti’s piece was at times extremely popular, the “regiment’s daughter” faded from favour somewhat in the 20th century. It can now be rediscovered, from the famous overture right through to the both amusing and cryptic music, in its first new production at the Bayerische Staatsoper in almost ninety years

After the Komische Oper Berlin gave the thrilling start to a series of major productions at Tempelhof Airport with The Raft of the Medusa , an absolute classic of music history will follow in 2024: Georg Friedrich Handel's MESSIAH . It is hard to believe that the creation of this global success took place at a time that was by no means promising for the composer: rival opera companies, bankruptcies, a London audience that grew tired of Italian opera and then a stroke! Handel's response to this life crisis seems all the more impressive.

Messiah

Komische Oper Berlin @Schillertheater

On a neglected farm, the animals revolt against their tyrannical owner. After some time, however, they are forced to submit to the yoke of a new leader from their own ranks.

Vienna State Opera

She has a difficult personality – but a nice nose! This opinion expressed by a short statured Gaul is just one of the many legends surrounding the captivating pharaoh. Cleopatra's ability to stun the greats of her time has always served as a blessing for those in the entertainment business who had a keen eye for good material. Even though Handel's timeless smash hit bears the title of the Roman dictator, the Egyptian usually leads by a nose in this gem of the operatic repertoire. The way she warbles, charms, suffers, sobs and triumphs is breathtakingly beautiful.

Giulio Cesare in Egitto

Oper Leipzig

Magda leaves her wealthy patron when she meets the young Ruggero. But the feeling of first love cannot be relived. Puccini's "La rondine" (The Swallow), commissioned by Vienna's Carl Theater, is an unusual blend of opera and operetta that puzzled critics: some found it too heavy, others too light. Despite several revisions to the ending, Puccini considered his "problem child" a gem that remains rarely performed to this day. Christof Loy directs this work as an impressive rediscovery. Marco Armiliato conducts.

Choreographer

Thomas Wilhelm

Events

Upcoming events

May 1 - Jun 20, 2026

Carmen · Semperoper Dresden

12 - 23 Jun, 2026

Animal Farm · Wiener Staatsoper

13 - 27 Jun, 2026

Giulio Cesare in Egitto · Oper Leipzig

Sep 24 - Oct 15, 2026

La rondine · Opernhaus Zürich

Past events

May 1 - Jun 20, 2026

Carmen · Semperoper Dresden

22 - 28 Nov, 2025

La Fille du régiment · Bayerische Staatsoper

About

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