Name: Cheerful & Burlesque
Start: 2025-05-26T20:00:00
Location: Alte Oper

This spring, Oper Frankfurt opens its doors to a series of captivating events, ranging from the thought-provoking operatic meditations in 'L’invisible' to the delicate melodies of renowned tenors and sopranos. As audiences gather, they are set to experience the enchanting recitals of Francesco Meli and Asmik Grigorian, a jubilant orchestral celebration, and more. Join us as we delve into the excitement and creativity showcased in these events, highlighting the performers and the unique stories woven through the music and performances at this iconic venue.

Oper Frankfurt: A Spring Symphony of Diverse Performances

This spring and summer, Oper Frankfurt is set to be the heart of an exciting array of musical experiences. From thought-provoking operas like 'L’invisible' and 'Melusine', to the symphonic charms of 'Contrapuntal Wizards' and 'Cheerful & Burlesque', the season promises a compelling exploration of human emotions and stories. Renowned performers such as Francesco Meli, Georg Zeppenfeld, and Asmik Grigorian will grace the stage, captivating audiences with their recitals. Whether you’re a seasoned opera lover or a newcomer to the scene, these events offer an engaging and diverse musical journey.

Oper Frankfurt Celebrates a Rich Tapestry of Musical Narratives

As spring blossoms in Frankfurt, Oper Frankfurt hosts a remarkable lineup of events that promises to captivate music enthusiasts. With a diverse range of performances from classical recitals and exquisite operas to innovative orchestral pieces, the upcoming events showcase an impressive array of talent. Highlights include the much-anticipated recital of Georg Zeppenfeld with Gerold Huber, the enchanting opera 'Parsifal', and the vibrant 'Cheerful & Burlesque' orchestral concert. There's something for everyone in this celebration of music and artistry.

Oper Frankfurt's Spring Spectacle: A Celebration of Music and Talent

Duncan Ward

Martin Helmchen

Oper Frankfurt

a moving story about an outsider, turned into a scapegoat by his small-minded, vindictive fellow villagers. The only way to escape his wretched life and them, baying for his blood, is by scuttling his boat and drowning at sea. Michel Friedman discusses this with a former chairman of the SPD, minister in several cabinets and vice chancellor: Franz Müntefering.

Michel Friedman (a well known person in Germany) in conversation

The title of this series of concerts– »Happy New Ears« – was something John Cage once wished his audience instead of Happy New Year. Cage, along with Luigi Nono, who taught him, and Karlheinz Stockhausen were among those to have influenced Helmut Lachenmann most. He turns 90 on November 27 this year; a chance to honour one of the most important composers of the 20th and 21st centuries with a portrait concert. He's been trying to broaden horizons across the board with his distinct sound world and challenging concepts of art and music for nearly 70 years. »Art is not an expression of what defines time, but what it lacks,« he said and, with Beethoven in mind: »a metamorphosis of magical, familiar experiences triggered by a spiritually charged, creative driving force« - something that fascinates him.

Happy New Ears

HfMDK Frankfurt

Turandot refuses to marry by setting an impossible condition: Whoever wants her for his wife must solve three riddles. Anyone who can’t, is publicly executed. Prince Calaf, a refugee stranded in Peking, falls hopelessly under Turandot’s spell. The Princess is shaken to the core when he manages to answer all three. Turandot unleashes a clear struggle for power, which ultimately claims innocent victims.

Turandot

Who are we, who do we want to be? How far will longing for more power, wealth and a more elevated position in society make peope go? Triggered by a curious encounter, which he thinks is a prophesy, Macbeth’s wife goads him into murdering King Duncan. The throne falls to him, but remorse and hallucinations throw him deeper and deeper into turmoil, while Lady Macbeth urges him to carry out more atrocious deeds. But her feelings of guilt ending up destroying her too. R.B. Schlather’s production traces the extraordinary actuality of the protagonists, just as Verdi was fascinated by Shakespeare’s King and Queen. The Director studied the gruesome events surrounding a childless couple in an elegant but cheerless atmosphere of an imposing residence: global politics mirrored in private lives. In the end the oppressed put a violent end to the Macbeth’s autocratic regime.

Macbeth

During Simon Bailey's years as a much loved member of the Ensemble in Frankfurt his many roles included Peter (the Father) (Hänsel und Gretel), Mr Redburn (Billy Budd), Gunther (Götterdämmerung), Klingsor (Parsifal), Gelone (Cesti's L’Orontea - get the CD! OehmsCassics), Don Magnifico (La Cenerentola), Orest (Elektra), Křenek's Adam Ochsenschwanz (Heavyweight or the Glory of the Nation) and the title role in Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle. This British artist's recent engagements have included Achilla (Giulio Cesare in Egitto), Don Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Mozart's Figaro, Leporello (Don Giovanni), Kutusov (Prokofiev's War and Peace), Méphistophélès (La damnation de Faust), the four Villains (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Jochanaan (Salome), Balstrode (Peter Grimes) and the Judge of the Dead (Lucullus' Condemnation) at places including Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, Basel, Strasbourg, Brussels, London and Milan. This winner of the 2018 Wales Theatre Awards added the roles of Wotan and the Wanderer to his repertoire after enjoying great success with them at the Tirol Festival in Erl, in a new Ring directed by Brigitte Fassbaender. Now we can all look forward to hearing this wonderful singer and friend again, in recital!

Simon Bailey (bass-baritone) & Anne Larlee (piano)

The inspiration for Fortner’s opera resembles an ancient Greek tragedy. The Spanish poet Garcia Lorca took up an all too familiar tale for his play Blood Wedding, which was first performed in 1933. His vitriol aimed at the uncompromising nature of blood feuds: a bridegroom’s mother lost her husband and oldest son in fights between the two clans and now fears for her youngest son’s life. She’s worried his wedding will reignite the war, because the bride still loves her former beloved Leonardo, a member of the enemy family. Leonardo abducts her during the wedding. They escape into the woods, but are caught. Two scores are settled: both rivals die in a duel.

Blood Wedding

The Four Seasons was written not long after the very successful first performance of Haydn's Creation and are clearly very closely linked, spiritually.

9th Sunday & Monday Symphonic Concerts

Alte Oper

Dagmar Manzel is one of Germany's most admired and respected actresses, appearing in plays, films and on television and, for 20 years, as a major player in theater: While Barrie Kosky ran the Komische Oper she turned into an operetta and musical star. She's back at Oper Frankfurt this season for this recital (her first was in 2017) and to play Death a new production of Fortner's version of Lorca's Blood Wedding. The title of her recital is Longing, exploring it from various angles, like longing for happiness, great and small, and better times. Émile Cioran said, for those suffering unfulfilled longings: "In a world without melancholy nightingales would soon start belching  ..." Don't miss the chance of experiencing this wonderful artist live, with a small group of musicians, reciting texts and singing songs from 1920s to the present day, true to Friedrich Hollaender's maxim: "If I could make a wish."

Dagmar Manzel (singer)

The last concerts this season welcome back our dear friend Sebastian Weigle, long-standing chief conductor and artistic manager of the Museumsconcerts, conducting the Frankfurt Opern and Museumsorchesters for the first time as a guest.

10th Sunday & Monday Symphonic Concerts

While Syracuse is arming for war against the Sarazans, the King’s daughter Amenaide is charged with high treason for writing a letter to Solamir, leader of the Sarazans, professing her love. Just before her execution Tancredi, a knight banished from Syracuse, and Amenaide’s secret lover, returns, incognito. The letter was intended for him. Although he saves her from being executed, he starts doubting her fidelity. War with the Sarazans looms closer, and Tancredi’s to lead his people into the decisive battle.

Tancredi

How to become self-aware and lead a meaningful life? Does the secret to happiness lie in accepting finiteness and overcoming human vanities?

The Triumph Of Time & Truth

Bockenheimer Depot

A Tsar, wanting to have his photograph taken has no idea he’s surrounded by conspirator’s planning his assassination. And a young woman, who can outsmart anybody – even a King.

Cheerful & Burlesque

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