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 set to ignite the artistic spirit in the heart of Switzerland with its remarkable lineup for the 2025 season. Featuring works from legendary composers like Beethoven and Wagner, as well as a benefit concert with the illustrious Cecilia Bartoli, opera enthusiasts are in for a captivating experience. From the heroic tale of 'Fidelio' to the romantic intrigue of 'Lohengrin' and the haunting beauty of 'Die tote Stadt,' each performance promises to offer a unique journey into the world of opera. Discover the passion, talent, and storytelling that define this season's offerings.

A Symphony of Artistry: Opernhaus Zürich's Spectacular 2025 Season

Opernhaus Zürich invites opera enthusiasts to a spectacular celebration of timeless operatic masterpieces this 2025, featuring Beethoven's poignant 'Fidelio', Wagner's enchanting 'Lohengrin', and Korngold's evocative 'Die tote Stadt'. These performances promise to captivate audiences with a blend of emotional depth, musical brilliance, and theatrical grandeur. With a lineup of world-class performers and the picturesque Zurich backdrop, this operatic extravaganza is an unmissable cultural experience. Dive into the world of passion, heroism, and haunting beauty as we explore the highlights and significance of these iconic operas.

Unveiling Operatic Masterpieces: A Journey Through Fidelio, Lohengrin, and Die tote Stadt at Opernhaus Zürich

Opernhaus Zürich is set to host an operatic feast featuring timeless classics and contemporary pieces. From Wagner's 'Lohengrin' to Offenbach's 'Les Contes d’Hoffmann', the lineup promises to captivate audiences with stellar performances by renowned artists. This season's offerings include compelling narratives, enchanting musical scores, and a celebration of cultural richness, making it a must-visit for opera enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Operatic Extravaganza at Opernhaus Zürich: A Journey Through Classic and Contemporary Masterpieces

This spring, the Opernhaus Zürich invites opera lovers on a journey through the captivating worlds of Richard Wagner's 'Lohengrin' and Erich Wolfgang Korngold's 'Die tote Stadt.' With performances scheduled throughout April and May 2025, audiences will be treated to the vocal prowess of notable performers like Piotr Beczała and Eric Cutler. Adding to the excitement is a much-anticipated benefit concert featuring the globally renowned Cecilia Bartoli. These events promise to offer a feast for the senses, blending rich narratives, powerful music, and exceptional performances.

Operatic Splendor in Zurich: A Journey Through Lohengrin and Die tote Stadt

Opernhaus Zürich invites you to engage with art in its diverse forms, offering a series of events that delve into the realms of dance, opera, and creative exploration. From experimenting with your voice in 'open space stimme' to experiencing the creative freedom of contemporary dance in 'open space tanz,' and uncovering the theatrical magic behind the scenes with guided tours, there's something for everyone. Join discussions with top dance professionals in 'Zurich Talks Dance' and immerse yourself in classic operatic masterpieces such as 'Die tote Stadt' and 'Rigoletto.'

Discovering Artistic Expression at Opernhaus Zürich: A Journey Through Dance, Opera, and More

Lorenzo Viotti

Eric Cutler

Siena Licht Miller

Vida Miknevičiūtė

Björn Bürger

Evelyn Herlitzius

Rebeca Olvera

Álvaro Diana Sanchez

Nathan Haller

Elena Zaytseva

Ernst Raffelsberger

Gleb Filshtinsky

Beate Breidenbach

Dmitri Tcherniakov

Kinderchor

Opernhaus Zürich

Philharmonia Zürich

SoprAlti der Oper Zürich

Zusatzchor Opernhaus Zürich

Wie du warst! Wie du bist!

Bernhard Theater

The work of the piano tuner is indispensable for any concert or opera, but it takes place away from the public eye. As with so many things in life, the pursuit of perfect tuning inevitably leads to compromise, thanks to extenuating circumstances. Music theorist Andreas Werckmeister understood this already at the end of the 17th century, when he toiled to understand the pitfalls of mean-tone temperament, trying to bring structure to the chaos. Alongside Werckmeister's cryptic-philosophical texts, compositions from Schütz to Charles Ives form the starting point for this music theater creation by Swiss theater artist Thom Luz. The work will be presented in the former «Kino Sternen» in Zurich-Oerlikon, which will open as the new «Oper im Quartier» venue starting in the 2026/27 season.

Werckmeister Harmonies

Zurich Opera House

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.

Werther

Marcos Morau’s « Nachtträume» was the Ballett Zürich highlight of the year in 2022, lauded as a «dance panopticon and abysmal Gesamtkunstwerk of dance, text, music, and impressive images» (NZZ). In his ninety-minute piece, the Spanish choreographer undertakes a disturbing nightmare journey with Ballett Zürich into the realms of power, powerlessness, and mindless allegiance. He succeeds in creating a profound analysis of the present, in which power and vanity, envy and greed for profit, social Darwinism and economic primacy all too often have us in a stranglehold. 

Night dreams

Tannhäuser lived for seven years in the dream world of the Venusberg, but even his return to the stifling society of Wartburg Castle brings no fulfillment. A pilgrim between worlds, he is homeless. The Icelandic director Thorleifur Örn Arnarsson, known for his compelling interpretations of mythical material and grand narratives, stages "Tannhäuser" as an existential drama of identity and a surreal journey into the human psyche. Wagner condensed the search for meaning and stability in a world that seems to be slipping away into a philosophical description of the world.

Tannhäuser

Open-Air-Concert

Sechseläutenplatz

Open-air concert

The «Next Generation» series gives up-and-coming choreographers their big chance. Every two years, dancers from Ballett Zürich and the Junior Ballett present their own choreographies – which they created for this event series – on the Opernhaus Studiobühne. They rehearse their new creations with their ensemble colleagues and have a chance to try their hand at creating stage sets and costumes. The «small format» of the evening supports the intensity and choreographic diversity of this multifaceted evening of ballet, and the result is a series of surprising experiments, clever dance snapshots and sensual highlights.

Next Generation

The depths of love are the subject of almost all of Mozart's operas – but none as exclusively as in "Così fan tutte." Ferrando and Guglielmo are convinced that their fiancées, Dorabella and Fiordiligi, are faithful to them. The men enter into a bet with Don Alfonso, who intends to prove them wrong with an experiment. But what begins as a harmless game turns into a cruel open-heart experiment... Kirill Serebrennikov's production is radically contemporary; Roberto González-Monjas, chief conductor of the Musikkollegium Winterthur, guides the audience through Mozart's brilliant yet ambiguous score.

That's what they all do

The highly talented young singers present themselves in this final concert with a colorful program of arias, duets and ensembles. 

Gala Concert of the International Opera Studio

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.

Tugan Sokhiev

“Love is a rebellious bird,” sings Carmen in Georges Bizet’s opera of the same name. In 1992, the Swedish dance legend Mats Ek made Carmen the title character of a ballet for the Cullberg Ballet. He closely follows the novella by Prosper Mérimée on which the opera is based, in which Don José recounts Carmen’s story from his death cell. Playing with classical gender roles, Mats Ek avoids common Carmen clichés and arrives at a profoundly human interpretation. The Australian choreographer Dani Rowe, who now directs the Oregon Ballet Theatre, presents “Vestige,” set to the music of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” in Maurice Ravel’s orchestral arrangement. In episodic visions, people, impressions, and experiences pass before the main character, “Human,” allowing her to draw new strength from her memories.

Rebel Birds

Opera in three acts by Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957)
Libretto by Paul Schott (Julius and Erich Wolfgang Korngold) after the novel
«Bruges la morte» by Georges Rodenbach

Die tote Stadt

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