Opernhaus Zürich is set to captivate audiences with a rich tapestry of operatic masterpieces during its 2024-2025 season. Featuring celebrated works from Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, and others, this season promises to be a feast for the senses. Highlights include Camilla Nylund's return as Senta in 'Der fliegende Holländer', the emotionally charged 'Un ballo in Maschera', and the timeless tragedy of 'Madama Butterfly'. With world-class performers and the exceptional musical direction of Gianandrea Noseda, Opernhaus Zürich is poised to deliver unforgettable experiences that resonate deeply with opera lovers.

A Melodic Tapestry: Opernhaus Zürich's Enchanting 2024-2025 Opera Season

Opernhaus Zürich is set to captivate audiences with a trio of operatic masterpieces: Richard Wagner's 'Lohengrin', Giuseppe Verdi's 'Rigoletto', and Jacques Offenbach's 'Les Contes d’Hoffmann'. This lineup showcases a blend of romantic, melodramatic, and fantastical elements, brought to life by talented performers like Piotr Beczała and Brenda Rae. These performances promise audiences an immersive experience of powerful storytelling, intricate compositions, and profound emotional depth. Prepare to be transported into worlds of intrigue, passion, and drama through these iconic operas.

An Operatic Journey at Opernhaus Zürich: Lohengrin, Rigoletto, and Les Contes d’Hoffmann

Opéra-fantastique in five acts by Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)
Libretto by Jules Paul Barbier after the drame fantastique of the same name
by Barbier and Michel Florentin Carré

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Les Contes d’Hoffmann

Opernhaus Zürich

Melodrama in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
After Victor Hugo’s play «Le Roi s’amuse»

Rigoletto

Romantic opera in three acts by Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Libretto by the composer

Lohengrin

Opera in two acts by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Libretto by Joseph Ferdinand Sonnleithner and Georg Friedrich Treitschke

Fidelio

Drame-lyrique in 5 acts by Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
after the tragedy by William Shakespeare

Roméo et Juliette

Tragedia giapponese in two acts by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
after Pierre Loti, John Luther Long and David Belasco

Madama Butterfly

«You will die! A friend will kill you.» – The scene with the fortune teller Ulrica, who prophesies that Count Riccardo will soon meet his end, is just one of many effective scenes in Verdi’s opera Un ballo in maschera. Riccardo doesn’t believe Ulrica, and laughs – but a short while later he is murdered by his best friend Renato during a masked ball. Comedy and horror are also closely linked musically in this score from Verdi’s middle creative phase. The story of an idle, politically weak ruler who is killed at a masked ball is based on the historical case of Gustav III of Sweden. However, Verdi was less interested in historical details than in the effective dramaturgy offered by the triangular constellation between Riccardo, his best friend Renato and his wife Amelia. The emotional drama that takes place in the middle act between Riccardo and his friend's wife is one of the most sensual love scenes Verdi ever wrote – and leads to the fiercest jealousy from Renato, who then joins a gang of conspirators. Verdi wanted to stage his new opera – originally with King Gustav as the title figure – in Naples, but the subject matter was targeted by censors. Showing a regicide on stage was simply impossible in the politically turbulent Italy of the 19th century. In the end, the opera was staged in Rome in 1859, in a historically altered setting. General Music Director Gianandrea Noseda and stage director Adele Thomas devote themselves to Verdi’s score of contrasts, which oscillates between masquerade frivolity and deeply felt melodrama. Tenor Charles Castronovo, who has already sung this role at the New York Met, is Riccardo. Italian soprano Erika Grimaldi makes her debut as Amelia.

Un ballo in Maschera

Finnish soprano Camilla Nylund thrilled as Brünnhilde in the new Zurich Ring des Nibelungen, and now she returns to Zurich as Senta. Her stage partner here is Tomasz Koniezcny, who will sing the title role in this revival and who celebrated his own triumph in the Zurich Ring when he took the stage as Wotan. General Music Director Gianandrea Noseda, meanwhile, showed with the Zurich Ring that he is a fantastic Wagner conductor. He now takes over the musical direction of this revival production.

Chor der Oper Zürich

Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2025

Les Contes d’Hoffmann

Apr 26 - May 15, 2025

Rigoletto

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Chor der Oper Zürich