Lieutenant Pinkerton has fallen in love with the geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly, and wants to marry her according to Japanese custom without entering into a permanent relationship. But Butterfly truly loves Pinkerton and has a child by him. For years she waits in vain for the lieutenant to return. When Pinkerton does return, he arrives with his new American wife to pick up the child, and Butterfly stabs herself with a dagger.

Madama Butterfly

Bebelplatz

The one who has strayed from the right path – that is Violetta Valéry, who leads a life as a noble courtesan in Paris between splendor and misery. Everything is mere play and illusion, even love, until Alfredo Germont awakens true feelings in her. Happiness, however, is a rare visitor and only short-lived: Violetta, suffering from consumption, is first humiliated and then, after a final flicker of vitality, expires.

La traviata

The most famous lovers ever: virtually mythical figures, Romeo and Juliette from Shakespeare’s eponymous drama have dominated world literature ever since its premiere in 1597. Among the many musical settings of the work, Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette is one of the most performed. It was a triumphant success already at its premiere as part of the 1867 Paris Exposition. Gounod focuses particularly on the emotional life of the two lovers, for whom he composes no fewer than four love duets. At the same time, he also explores the social context of their forbidden love in the form of powerful choral tableaux and a large fight scene between the enemy families. In this production, director Mariame Clément will place the focus on the youth of the title characters, presenting them not as an exaggerated ideal of a couple, but as young people of today who find their way to another despite all odds.

Roméo et Juliette

Violetta Valéry is a noble courtesan in Paris who has "strayed from the path of virtue" and leads a life that oscillates between splendour and misery. For her everything is a game – even love – until Alfredo Germont awakens true feelings in her. But this rare happiness only lasts fleetingly for Violetta, who suffers from tuberculosis, and who is first publicly humiliated before passing away.

It is one of the classics in the Staatsoper’s repertoire: August Everding’s production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute. The production is unique for its reconstruction of Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s 1816 set design for what was then the Berlin Court Opera on Unter den Linden – including the legendary starry sky for the Queen of the Night, which has become an icon of scenography and continues to enchant audiences.

Die Zauberflöte (Everding)

When the revolutionary and painter Mario Cavaradossi secretly attempts to help a political fugitive to escape the city of Rome, his lover, the famed singer Floria Tosca, believes he is cheating on her with another woman. Her jealousy is exploited by Scarpia, the unscrupulous chief of police, in order to help him capture Cavaradossi. Scarpia then makes Tosca an offer: if she gives herself to him for one night, he will release her lover.

Tosca

A schoolyard game: Max has no chance against Kilian and is tossed off the team. Now it will be hard to see Agathe, with whom he has fallen in love. Later, Caspar from his group follows him and promises him a magic potion that will make everything better. Although Agathe and her friend warn Max against it, he meets Caspar one night and allows himself to be convinced to take the magic potion. The next day, it should help for the decisive match …

Der Freischütz für Kinder

The first premiere of the season on the State Opera stage will be Jacques Offenbach's opera Les Contes d'Hoffmann – and the Opera Children's Orchestra will also be performing this imaginative music. Excerpts from Offenbach's last work will be heard. The program will be complemented by music by other great French musical theater composers of the 19th century.

Concert Opera Children's Orchestra

Hostility, hatred and religious wars, power, helplessness and desire: in the Hebrew struggle for freedom, Samson, as God’s chosen one, rebukes the hostile Philistines. Samson seems invincible until his love for the Philistine Dalila exposes him. She finds out the secret of his extraordinary strength. The loss of his identity is at stake, and a race against time begins.

Irakli Pkhaladze

Events

Upcoming events

Nov 30, 2025 - Apr 30, 2026

Madama Butterfly · Staatsoper Berlin

Dec 13, 2025 - May 24, 2026

Die Zauberflöte (Everding) · Staatsoper Berlin

Jan 15 - Feb 13, 2026

Tosca · Staatsoper Berlin

Jan 22 - Jul 7, 2026

Der Freischütz für Kinder · Staatsoper Berlin

4 - 6 Jun, 2026

Concert Opera Children's Orchestra · Staatskapelle Berlin

Past events

Nov 30, 2025 - Apr 30, 2026

Madama Butterfly · Staatsoper Berlin

Oct 30, 2025

La traviata · Staatsoper Berlin

Future and recently performed repertoire

2. Geharnischter in Die Zauberflöte by Mozart

Staatsoper Berlin

Baron Douphol in La traviata by Verdi

Staatsoper Berlin

Singer in Faust by Gounod

Staatskapelle Berlin

Second Philistine in Samson and Delilah by Saint-Saëns

Staatsoper Berlin

Pâris in Roméo et Juliette by Gounod

Staatsoper Berlin

Singer in Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach

Staatskapelle Berlin

Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly by Puccini

Staatsoper Berlin

Sciarrone in Tosca by Puccini

Staatsoper Berlin

Singer in Les contes d'Hoffmann by Offenbach

Staatskapelle Berlin

Singer in Scènes hongroises by Massenet

Staatskapelle Berlin

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