William Shakespeare tells a story of love and transformation in his comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream." He interweaves the paths and detours of Eros in several plot lines, inevitably leading to mix-ups, misunderstandings, and hilarious scenes. Ballet director Cathy Marston and designer Richard Hudson stage their "Midsummer Night's Dream" in a dilapidated, abandoned fairground. Providing a counterpoint to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's famous incidental music is Gabriel Prokofiev's "Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra No. 1." Robert Houssart conducts the Zurich Opera Orchestra and receives expert support from the popular British DJ Mr. Switch.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Bernhard-Theater

The very title of this two-part ballet promises an evening of contrasts: tempo versus slowness. In 2027, the ballet world will celebrate Jiří Kylián's 80th birthday. For over three decades, he shaped the profile of Nederlands Dans Theater, which, under his direction, has developed into one of the world's leading contemporary ballet companies. The Prague native has also been associated with the Zurich Ballet since 1997. In slow motion, six figures move through his piece "Last Touch First," reminiscent of Chekhov and Ibsen. On the fine line between perceived movement and immobility, psychodramas full of desire, despair, and pathos unfold. Canadian-born Stephanie Lake is one of the most important dance figures in her adopted home of Australia. She is resident choreographer of the Australian Ballet and resident choreographer with the Semperoper Ballet. With her Melbourne-based Stephanie Lake Company, she tours the world. In her creations, she explores the relationship between the individual and the collective. She is choreographing a fast-paced group piece for the Zurich Ballet to a new score by Robin Fox, dominated by percussion instruments.

EPSG:4326

Slow Rush

Opernhaus Zürich

Famous orchestral scores by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Benjamin Britten, and Bohuslav Martinů form the musical heart of this three-part ballet evening. "See the music, hear the dance"—this was the motto of George Balanchine, the founder of the New York City Ballet and a grand master of neoclassical dance. For him, dance was visual music and should lead the audience to hear it in a new and different way. With pure beauty and perfectly choreographed formations of dancers, Balanchine's legendary piece "Serenade" is breathtaking. Cathy Marston's choreography "Against the Tide" was created for London's Royal Ballet. For this piece, she explored Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto and the background of its creation in 2025. Ballet Zurich will perform a piece by Justin Peck for the first time. In his "Paz de la Jolla," developed entirely in the spirit of Balanchine and set to music by Bohuslav Martinů, the resident choreographer of the New York City Ballet celebrates a Californian beach atmosphere.

See the music, hear the dance

The aging and headstrong Don Pasquale dreams of marrying a young woman. But his supposed bride turns out to be a cunning schemer: the self-assured Norina and the shady Dottor Malatesta play a cruel trick on the old man, a blend of comedy and hurt. "Don Pasquale" is one of Gaetano Donizetti's last operas. This dramma buffo showcases the composer's mastery and keen understanding of human nature, written shortly before the tragic end of his life. Director Christof Loy presents Donizetti's classic beyond all buffo clichés, with a subtle, bittersweet touch. The title role is sung by Johannes Martin Kränzle, one of the most distinguished character actors of our time.

Don Pasquale

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Podcast link: https://youtu.be/4hagYvrYbuM

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The children's opera orchestra, with instrumentalists from all 35 music schools in the canton of Zurich, performs under the direction of Gianandrea Noseda and Ann-Katrin Stöcker, together with soloists from the Zurich Opera.

Children's Opera Orchestra

The extensive concert program presents itself with dazzling diversity and a variety of formats. The Zurich Opera Orchestra, in full force, will perform in seven Philharmonic Concerts, alternating between the Opera House and the Tonhalle. Internationally renowned soloists and guest conductors will dedicate themselves to major works from Beethoven to Strauss, as well as fascinating discoveries from the concert repertoire. 

9th Chamber Concert

The biblical story of Samson and Delilah, set in ancient Gaza, illustrates how closely emotions and politics have always been intertwined. To break the power of the Hebrews, the priestess Delilah seeks to uncover the secret of Samson's strength and feigns love for him. But Samson's revenge is terrible when he brings down the temple of Delilah's people, killing himself in the process. Among the most poignant moments in Camille Saint-Saëns' most successful opera is Delilah's seduction scene, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" (My heart opens to your voice). Mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb and tenor Stanislas de Barbeyrac make their stage debuts in the title roles under the direction of Gianandrea Noseda. Evgeny Titov, who skillfully combines sensuality with psychological depth in his work, directs.

Samson and Delilah

Cantautrice – singer-songwriter – Liedermacherei: they all attempt to describe it, that hybrid entity between music and poetry. But is it an entity? Or is it a place? In Sophie Hunger's musical fantasy "Rise and Fall at Hotel Hunger," we are transported there, blossoming and disintegrating in a life between music and word, body and mind, intoxication and senses. In a single night, from sunset to dawn, Sophie Hunger and her polyphonic ensemble wander through spaces, time zones, and identities in search of a new dawn. In doing so, the cantautrice unites what opera divides: composition, libretto, and interpretation. Her ensemble, too, merges time zones and social classes; transverse flutes, synthesizers, acoustic guitar, and celesta give voice to the divided voices within us. Sophie Hunger makes her debut at the Zurich Opera this evening – and with her, the art of song in its modern form.

Hotel Hunger

Rodolfo, a young, unsuccessful writer, is seeking inspiration when a young woman unexpectedly appears on his doorstep: Mimì only wants to relight her extinguished candle, but their encounter unfolds one of the most moving love stories in operatic literature. Director Ole Anders Tandberg presents "La bohème" as a poetic fantasy about four provincial artists who dream of great success and suddenly find themselves immersed in the Parisian artistic myth. Giacomo Puccini's score unites some of his most famous arias and touches the audience with undiminished emotional power. Anna Netrebko will sing the role of Mimì in several performances.

Events in Zürich

A Midsummer Night's Dream...

Opernhaus Zürich

Slow Rush

Opernhaus Zürich

See the music, hear the d...

Opernhaus Zürich

Don Pasquale

Opernhaus Zürich

The Artelize Podcast Pres...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast: 'Am...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast and ...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast - A ...

Artelize

Children's Opera Orchestr...

Opernhaus Zürich

9th Chamber Concert

Opernhaus Zürich

9th Chamber Concert

Opernhaus Zürich

Samson and Delilah

Opernhaus Zürich

Hotel Hunger

Opernhaus Zürich

La bohème

Opernhaus Zürich

Elīna Garanča recital

Opernhaus Zürich