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

It is hard to believe that Carmen, the most performed opera in the world, was a flop at its premiere, precipitating the death of its author at the age of 36. Hadn't Bizet been able to show "real men and real women dazzled, tortured by passion," Théodore de Banville enthused? Tonight, three voices, the cigar maker, her lover Don José and the bullfighter Escamillo, perform Carmen behind closed doors, a new lyrical suite that offers a summary of its key scenes. Another destiny cut short in the prime of life and inspiration is Lili Boulanger, the first woman to win the Prix de Rome, precisely with this cantata, Faust et Hélène .

Julien Behr

Events

Upcoming events

21 - 22 May, 2026

Great tunes by Carmen Arquez - Behr / Cavallier · Orchestre National de France

Past events

Sep 21, 2024

Messiah · Komische Oper Berlin

Future and recently performed repertoire

Faust / Don José in Carmen by Bizet

Orchestre National de France

Faust / Don José in Faust et Hélène by Boulanger

Orchestre National de France

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