Actor

The composer Engelbert Humperdinck based his work on the most famous of all fairy tales. The operatic version of the story of the siblings Hänsel and Gretel, who lose their way in the forest and nearly fall victim to the Knusperhexe, or witch, has always inspired audiences. The music takes well-known folk melodies and combines them with large, shimmering soundscapes that move between dream and reality, and between fears and fantasies. Zurich-born director Thom Luz has received numerous awards for his theater work. With «Hansel and Gretel», he makes his long-awaited opera debut, and unleashes the poetic power of theatrical magic. Lithuanian conductor Giedrė Šlekytė musically directs.

Hansel and Gretel

Zurich Opera House

Powerful bars make it clear right from the start: «Tosca» is an operatic thriller about desire, betrayal, and abuse of power. With the title heroine, Puccini created a character who dedicated her entire life to the stage. Robert Carsen stages an enigmatic play about appearances and reality, theater and truth, while keeping pace with suspense-packed plot. Under the musical direction of Marco Armiliato, the dramatic triumvirate is made up of Sonya Yoncheva in the title role, Jonas Kaufmann as Cavaradossi, and Bryn Terfel in the role of Scarpia.

Tosca

Manon wants a life of luxury. Des Grieux, a student, tries to escape his father’s influence, hoping for a freer life with Manon. The uncompromising nature of their wishes becomes the young man’s undoing. «Manon» made Jules Massenet one of France’s leading opera composers of the Belle Époque overnight. Lisette Oropesa is one of the outstanding lyric coloratura sopranos of her generation. French tenor Benjamin Bernheim’s international career began as a member of the International Opernstudio in Zurich.

Manon

Opéra-fantastique in five acts by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)
Libretto by Jules Paul Barbier after the drame fantastique of the same name
by Barbier and Michel Florentin Carré

EPSG:4326

Les Contes d’Hoffmann

Opernhaus Zürich

Everything revolves around Hanna Glawari in Franz Lehár’s operetta Die lustige Witwe: She is emancipated, beautiful, clever and the heiress to 20 million... Vida Miknevičiūtė will bow in the title role in our revival of Barrie Kosky’s opulent production. The Lithuanian soprano began her distinguished career at the International Opernstudio at the Opernhaus Zürich. She can now be heard singing major Wagner and Strauss roles on stages including the Staatsoper Berlin and La Scala di Milano. She appeared as Lehár’s Hanna at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich. Making his Opernhaus debut at the podium of the Philharmonia Zürich is conductor Ben Glassberg, a young British conductor who has been Music Director at the Volksoper Wien since 2024

Die lustige Witwe

Dramma lirico in four acts by Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924)
Libretto by Domenico Oliva, Luigi Illica and others

Manon Lescaut

Music theater for children from age 7 by Samuel Penderbayne (*1989)
Libretto by Christian Schönfelder after Christine Nöstlinger
Commissioned by the Opernhaus Zürich

Wir pfeifen auf den Gurkenkönig

Drame-lyrique in 5 acts by Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
after the tragedy by William Shakespeare

Roméo et Juliette

Jules Massanet’s «Werther», based on Goethe’s famous Sturm und Drang novel, is a poignant opera rife with emotion. The music subtly depicts the tense triangle of relationships between a love-sick young Werther, his darling Charlotte, and her staid fiancé Albert. Werther refuses to accept a life without dreams and finally – when faced with his unrequited love – takes his own life. Jonathan Tetlman, of the most successful of the new generation of tenors, makes his debut at the Opernhaus Zürich.

Actor

Valeriy Murga

Events

Upcoming events

Jun 14 - Jul 10, 2026

Werther · Opernhaus Zürich

Past events

Nov 16, 2025 - Jan 31, 2026

Hansel and Gretel · Opernhaus Zürich

Sep 28 - Oct 19, 2025

Tosca · Opernhaus Zürich

Future and recently performed repertoire

Peter Bensebinder in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck

Opernhaus Zürich

The Hotelier in Manon by Massenet

Opernhaus Zürich

Mesner in Tosca by Puccini

Opernhaus Zürich

The Bailiff in Werther by Massenet

Opernhaus Zürich

About

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