Prepare for an enchanting journey at the Opernhaus Zürich, where timeless operatic masterpieces come to life, featuring the extraordinary talents of Camilla Nylund, Tomasz Konieczny, and Brenda Rae. With productions ranging from Wagner's legendary 'Der fliegende Holländer' to Verdi's poignant 'Rigoletto,' this season promises to captivate audiences with its stellar performances and rich storytelling. These carefully curated operas, steeped in cultural and historical significance, will be led by some of the finest conductors and performers, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all who attend.

Operatic Odyssey: A Journey Through Zurich's Masterpieces

Embark on a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of operatic and ballet performances at the esteemed Opernhaus Zürich. This season promises to enchant audiences with a diverse array of productions, including Jonathan Dove's 'In 80 Tagen um die Welt', a whimsical adventure for children and the young at heart; Verdi's gripping 'Un ballo in Maschera', steeped in political intrigue and romantic turmoil; and the evocative tragedy 'Madama Butterfly' by Puccini. From Beethoven's poignant 'Fidelio' to Korngold's haunting 'Die tote Stadt', each performance offers a unique glimpse into the world of opera, making Zürich a cultural haven for art lovers.

An Operatic Odyssey: Discover the Magic of Zürich's Diverse Performances

Opernhaus Zürich is offering a diverse array of events that invite participants to immerse themselves in the worlds of ballet, opera, and theater. From interactive workshops like 'Discover Ballet: Giselle' and 'open space stimme' to insightful guided tours and the enchanting children's opera 'In 80 Tagen um die Welt,' there's something for everyone. Dive into these experiences and gain unique perspectives on the artistry and behind-the-scenes magic of this renowned institution.

Dive into the Arts: Workshops and Tours at Opernhaus Zürich

Opernhaus Zürich opens its doors to a vibrant array of cultural experiences, ranging from immersive ballet workshops and voice exploration to exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and captivating operatic performances. From October 2024 to July 2025, the opera house invites everyone to explore the arts through hands-on workshops, insightful discussions, and guided tours. Whether you’re a dance enthusiast, opera lover, or curious newcomer, these events promise to enrich your understanding and appreciation of performing arts in the heart of Zurich.

Opera and Dance: A Kaleidoscope of Experiences at Opernhaus Zürich

Christopher Willoughby

Alina Adamski

Andrew Owens

Yajie Zhang

Nicholas Mogg

Liliana Nikiteanu

Rebeca Olvera

Indyana Schneider

Felix Gygli

Ruben Drole

Andrew Moore

Irène Friedli

Christian Sturm

Tomislav Jukic

Michael Richter

Hanna Sophie Stejskal

Peter Lund

Ulrike Reinhard

Kathrin Brunner

Franck Evin

Philharmonia Zürich

Statistenverein am Opernhaus Zürich

Opernhaus Zürich

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

This four-part ballet evening brings together two legendary dance pieces and two world premieres.

The Ballett Zürich has a long-standing relationship with the American choreographer William Forsythe. His «New Suite» from 2012, set to music by Bach, Händel, and Berio, combines eight technically demanding duets from different creative periods, forming a showcase of his work «en miniature». Hans van Manen made dance history in 1979 with his video ballet «Live». Created in the pioneering days of video technology, this piece for two dancers, a pianist, and a cameraman explodes the boundaries of the stage space, revealing itself to be a masterful puzzle game about the mechanisms of perception.

Timeframed

This opera’s 1875 premiere in Paris caused a scandal, after the title character’s anarchic nature and lustful femininity disturbed the bourgeois audience’s sensibilities. But Bizet’s opera soon began its triumphal march, becoming a myth of modern times. To this day, «Carmen» fascinates audiences with its relentless drama and the elemental power of its melodies. Andreas Homoki’s production pays homage to the place where the opera was created, the Opéra comique in Paris. 

Carmen

Special Chamber Concert Morton Feldman

For Figaro and Susanna, it was supposed to be the most beautiful day of their lives: their wedding day. But their employer, Count Almaviva, who is equally in love with Susanna, does everything he can to delay the wedding. Twenty-four turbulent hours begin, in which the power of Eros throws every character in the play into confusing emotional states. Director Jan Philipp Gloger sets Mozart’s masterpiece in the present day, highlighting the way a supposedly irresistible man gets ensnared in a complex code of conduct designed to prevent abuse of power and sexual assault.

The Marriage of Figaro

Chamber music concerts are an important part of the program. In various formations and ensembles, the musicians of the Orchester der Oper Zürich explore a wide repertoire. At close quarters and in intimate spaces, audiences experience the intensity of the musicians as they make music. Each of the nine chamber music programs in the Spiegelsaal has its own individual focus: classics of the genre meet rarely heard works, and early music meets crossover.

7th Chamber Concert

Hall of Mirrors

Katharina Rosenberger and Dzovinar Mikirditsian explore the themes of memory and remembrance in two new works. Together with the Geneva-based percussion collective Eklekto, they are creating a performance as an open «work-in-progress», one that takes a look behind the scenes between music theater, radio art and concert, and in which the audience becomes part of the action. Zurich composer Katharina Rosenberger was awarded the Swiss Music Prize 2023, among others, for her border-defying works.

Furrows of Memories

The Orchester der Oper Zürich starts the concert season under a new, old name. After thirteen years as Philharmonia Zurich, the orchestra will return to its original moniker. The Philharmonic Concerts will once again alternate between the Opernhaus and the Tonhalle Zürich.

Jussen & Rustioni

Tonhalle Zürich

Recital Asmik Grigorian

Cardillac cannot part with his art. The jeweler must kill anyone who buys jewelry from him. E.T.A. Hoffmann’s novella «Das Fräulein von Scuderi», one of the first German detective stories, served as source material for Paul Hindemith. His 1926 opera is a milestone in the development of music theater. A century years after its premiere, theater and filmmaker Kornél Mundruczó stages this thriller about obsessions, control, and self-alienation. 

Cardillac

Special «Cardillac» Chamber Concert

Giuseppe Verdi’s «Messa da Requiem» is one of the most popular pieces in the concert repertoire. In a sensational co-production by the Oper Zürich and Ballett Zürich, Christian Spuck brought the oratorio for four solo voices, choir, and orchestra to the stage in 2016, as a combination of dance, abstract scene, space, and light. In his internationally acclaimed production, Spuck focuses on the human creature in the face of death and embarks on a sensitive search for traces of the whence and whither of the human being, between the terrifying proximity of death, loneliness, community solidarity, and mourning.

Requiem Mass

Opera in two acts by Jonathan Dove (*1959) for children from age 7 and up and the eternally young
based on the novel of the same name by Jules Verne, Libretto by Peter Lund
Commission of the Opernhaus Zürich

In 80 Tagen um die Welt

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