With the world premiere of Pelléas et Mélisande in 1902, Claude Debussy challenged his contemporaries to listen to music in a new way. His instrumentation was without precedent. He transposed the Wagnerian leitmotif technique into a subtle tone painting and described atmospheres and dispositions of the soul that elude description and that even music is often only able to gesture towards.

Pelléas et Mélisande

Bebelplatz

In Wagner's interpretation, the medieval myth about the tragic love between the Irish king's daughter Isolde and Tristan, King Mark's henchman, to whom Isolde was married against her will, becomes a key work of musical theater at the beginning of a new era. This season, the Hamburg State Opera is bringing Ruth Berghaus' legendary production from 1988 back into the repertoire.

Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde)

Hamburg State Opera

The wealthy Count Almaviva has won the heart of the beautiful Rosina under the pseudonym 'Lindoro'. But Rosina’s jealous guardian Dr Bartolo wishes to marry his ward himself and so tries to keep her suitors away. Fortunately, 'Lindoro' is helped by the cunning barber Figaro, who – more or less ingeniously – weaves a web of entanglements and masquerades.

Il barbiere di Siviglia

Inspired by his romantic love for Mathilde Wesendonck, Richard Wagner created one of the most beautiful operas in music history. This season, the Hamburg State Opera revives its legendary production by Ruth Berghaus of 1988.

Ruth Berghaus

Events

Past events

Jun 21 - Jul 9, 2026

Pelléas et Mélisande · Staatsoper Berlin

7 - 21 Jun, 2026

Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde) · Staatsoper Hamburg

About

Ruth Berghaus hasn't added a bio