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

“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.

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Rebel Birds

Opernhaus Zürich

In William Shakespeare's drama "Romeo and Juliet," the power of love allows two young people to transcend their limitations. The lovers of Verona have conquered the ballet stage thanks to the music of Sergei Prokofiev. He masterfully captured the clash of love and hate, and the juxtaposition of tenderness and violence, in his vibrant, passionate score. Cathy Marston brings the world's most famous love story to the stage with the Zurich Ballet as a world of contrasts, where everything can change in an instant: around the next corner awaits the love of your life, or perhaps death itself.

Romeo and Juliet

Rachmaninoff The Three Operas

A bottle labeled "Drink me!" that shrinks you, a cake that makes you grow immeasurably after you eat it, a Mad Hatter who celebrates his unbirthday 364 days a year – these and many other curious adventures await Alice after she follows a rabbit and falls down a hole. Is it all really just a dream? Lewis Carroll's classic children's book has captivated generations of theater and filmmakers, including the Italian composer Pierangelo Valtinoni. His poetic music, as well as Nadja Loschky's imaginative and fast-paced direction, thrilled audiences at the Zurich premiere.

Alice in Wonderland

A decision that irrevocably changes the world. "Doctor Atomic" depicts the dramatic night before the first atomic bomb test. At its heart is physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, torn between scientific triumph and moral responsibility. John Adams's captivating drama, with a libretto by Peter Sellars, is based on historical accounts, poems, and documentary statements. It offers a multifaceted perspective on the destructive power of human invention. Internationally renowned artist Vanessa Beecroft, known for her monumental and provocative tableaux of the human body that straddle performance, conceptual art, and sculpture, makes her directorial debut at the Zurich Opera House with this production.

Doctor Atomic

Amidst the everyday dreariness of a small village, Nemorino tries to win the heart of the wealthy landowner Adina. He pins his hopes on a supposed "love potion" which he acquires from the shady Dr. Dulcamara. This potion is said to take effect after 24 hours. With Gaetano Donizetti's "melodramma giocoso," composed during the early industrial era, director Julia Lwowski makes her debut at the Zurich Opera House. The stage design is by artist Mika Rottenberg, whose playful fantasy worlds question the absurdity of modern production.

L'elisir d'amore

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

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

Giuseppe Verdi's "Don Carlo" unites political power struggles and unrequited passion in a monumental operatic drama. The Spanish Infante Carlos loves the French princess Elisabetta. When his father, King Philip II, marries her for political reasons, Carlos comes into conflict with the ruler. Against the backdrop of the atrocities of the Spanish Inquisition and the Flanders War of Independence, Giuseppe Verdi created a work that is as moving as it is highly dramatic. Petr Popelka, one of the rising stars of the younger generation of conductors, returns to the podium of the Zurich Opera Orchestra. Lise Davidsen sings Elisabetta di Valois.

Orchestra of the Zurich Opera

Sep 26, 2026 - Jul 3, 2027

A Midsummer Night's Dream

1 - 28 Nov, 2026

Rachmaninoff The Three Operas

Nov 8, 2026 - Jan 17, 2027

Alice in Wonderland

May 23 - Dec 27, 2026

Romeo and Juliet

7 - 28 Feb, 2027

Doctor Atomic

Sep 26, 2026 - Jul 3, 2027

A Midsummer Night's Dream

11 - 27 Sep, 2026

Rebel Birds

Orchestra of the Zurich Opera