Once upon a time... there was a king who had three children. In the kingdom, the crown had always been passed on to the son or daughter deemed most suitable to rule. A ring served as the symbol of power, which the king must hand over before his death.

EPSG:4326

The king gives something away

Cologne Opera

The opera DER ROSENKAVALIER leads into the bedroom of a princess and straight into the intimate conversation with her youthful lover. Inspired by the ancient tragedy ELEKTRA, Richard Strauss and the poet Hugo von Hofmannsthal envisioned something entirely new: a comedy for music. Cheerful, light, and elegant, conciliatory yet profound in its emotions and thoughts – and, of course, Austrian in its burlesque wit while at the same time touched by melancholy reflection. Thus the authors created the famous figure of the Field Marshal's wife, Princess Werdenberg who bears the first name Marie-Thérèse for good reason and entrusted her with the leading role in the opera DER ROSENKAVALIER, premiered in 1911.

Der Rosenkavalier

A colorful gingerbread house in the middle of the forest, in which two hungry children seek refuge. But there lives an evil witch with gruesome baking recipes. Engelbert Humperdinck's most famous opera is full of contrasts, both on stage and in the music. It combines traditional children's songs with Wagnerian orchestral sound, creating a magical soundscape that captivates both young and adult audiences alike. The fairy-tale opera, in which the siblings successfully overcome danger together, returns to the stage in the 2005 production by Jürgen Rose. It is conducted by the new Cologne General Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

Hansel and Gretel

Professor Beelzebub Irrwitzer is a dreadful sorcerer and poisoner, who takes pleasure in causing a lot of destruction in nature. But his devilish client is not at all satisfied with him this year, far too few Evil deeds, finds Maledictus Made, the devilish messenger. Therefore, at midnight, Irrwitzer's time will run out, unless he quickly manages to secure a few more disasters in the world. Now only the satan-archaeo-lying-alcoholic Wish Punch can help him, which at the stroke of midnight turns all good wishes into their opposite. However, Irrwitzer only has half of the parcel containing the recipe; the other half is with his aunt, Tyrannja Vamperl, who happens to be visiting. She has exactly the same problem, and so both are now brewing the highly dangerous Wish Punch. Fortunately, Tomcat Maurizio and Crow Krista recognizes the danger and they jointly take up the fight against the two villains, even though they initially do not like each other at all. But time is running out and the task is difficult...

The Wishing Punch

It is fair day in Bohemia; the entire village is drinking and celebrating merrily – except Marie, who remains sad. Because of old family ties, her father insists that she marries a man she does not know. The matchmaker Kezal has arranged what appears to be a profitable deal for everyone involved, by which the wealthy Wenzel and Marie are to become a couple. But Marie has already sworn eternal fidelity to her beloved Hans and now steadfastly refuses to give in. Then, however, a new agreement is made: Kezal persuades Hans to give up Marie for 300 gulden. Everyone is shocked: Hans sells his bride! That everything ultimately turns out well, that love prevails and the dealmaker comes away empty-handed, is due not only to Marie’s strong will and a clever trick by Hans, but also to a traveling circus troupe and a bear costume.

The Bartered Bride

“Are you human, or are you a fairy tale?” The water nymph Rusalka is in love with a prince. Only if she is transformed into a human can she be united with him. But the witch Ježibaba binds this spell to conditions: Rusalka must remain silent, and if the prince no longer loves her, she must kill him. The two plan to marry, but the prince is already troubled by her eternal silence, and soon he succumbs to the seduction of another woman. Rejected, Rusalka returns to the lake. When the prince shows remorse, the curse demands its price: one final kiss brings him death.

Dalia Schaechter

Events

Upcoming events

Sep 27 - Dec 20, 2026

Der Rosenkavalier · Oper Köln

Oct 10, 2026 - Jan 2, 2027

The king gives something away · Oper Köln

Feb 28 - Apr 25, 2027

The Bartered Bride · Oper Köln

May 16 - Jun 5, 2027

Rusalka · Oper Köln

Past events

Oct 10, 2026 - Jan 2, 2027

The king gives something away · Oper Köln

Sep 27 - Dec 20, 2026

Der Rosenkavalier · Oper Köln

Future and recently performed repertoire

Back (Agnes) in The Bartered Bride by Smetana

Oper Köln

Gertrud / The Crunchy Witch in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck

Oper Köln

Ježibaba in Rusalka by Dvořák

Oper Köln

Annina in Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss

Oper Köln

Tyrannja Vamperl in The Wishing Punch by Naske

Oper Köln

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