This season, the Komische Oper Berlin has curated an eclectic mix of performances, each offering a unique narrative and soundscape that promises to enthrall audiences. From classic children's tales like 'The Little Witch' to the seductive allure of 'Chicago,' the visceral storytelling of 'Sweeney Todd,' and the timeless magic of 'The Marriage of Figaro,' the opera house is unveiling a rich tapestry of genres and themes. Discover the enchantment of opera through these performances, where music, narration, and visual artistry collide in unforgettable harmony.

A Theatrical Spectacle: Exploring Komische Oper Berlin's Latest Productions

Step into the vibrant world of Berlin's Komische Oper, where a tapestry of theatrical brilliance unfolds. From the scandalous allure of 'Chicago' to the enigmatic charms of 'The Magic Flute,' this season promises a feast for the senses. With daring productions like 'Consistent Fantasy is Reality' and heartfelt tales such as 'La Bohème,' audiences are treated to a rich blend of classic and contemporary performances. Here's a glimpse into the captivating lineup that will enchant and engage theatergoers.

A Kaleidoscope of Culture: Highlights from Berlin's Komische Oper

The Komische Oper Berlin promises an exhilarating showcase of creativity and innovation with its upcoming events. From the classic allure of 'Chicago' and the whimsical journey of 'The Magic Flute' to the heartwarming tale of 'Hansel and Gretel', and the musical conversations in 'Rich Niche', these productions offer a dynamic range of artistic experiences. Renowned directors, captivating performers, and unique collaborations define this season, inviting audiences to delve into a world where music and storytelling transcend the ordinary.

Exploring the Rich Cultural Tapestry of Komische Oper Berlin's Diverse Lineup

The Komische Oper Berlin presents an exciting array of operatic events that delve into human emotions and experiences like never before. From the enchanting animations in 'The Magic Flute' to the poignant narrative of 'GAIA-24,' these performances promise to captivate and inspire. Join us as we explore these compelling stories brought to life by talented performers, vivid storytelling, and innovative staging techniques.

A Journey Through Opera: Unveiling Human Experiences at Komische Oper Berlin

Step into the imaginative world of Komische Oper Berlin, where an array of captivating performances awaits. From the fantastical journey of 'The Magic Flute' to the heartwarming tale of 'Hansel and Gretel', and the eclectic fusion of styles in 'Schall&Rausch', each event promises a unique experience. Discover performances that range from traditional operatic classics to avant-garde productions that challenge and delight audiences. Engage with the diverse themes, visionary artists, and vibrant atmosphere that define the upcoming season at this iconic opera house.

A Dazzling Array of Operatic Adventures at Komische Oper Berlin

Komische Oper Berlin's 2025 season promises a vibrant tapestry of performances, ranging from classic fairy tales and historical operas to symphonic concerts and whimsical comedies. This season, audiences will experience the whimsical charm of 'Hansel and Gretel', unravel the intriguing compositions of Kurt Weill in 'Lonely House', and witness Philip Glass's masterwork 'Akhenaten'. With an array of talents and captivating narratives, the lineup is designed to engage both aficionados and newcomers alike in an unforgettable cultural journey.

Exploring the Enchantment of Komische Oper Berlin's 2025 Season

Prepare to immerse yourself in a cultural extravaganza at the Komische Oper Berlin, showcasing a diverse array of performances that blend music, drama, humor, and creativity. From the comedic antics of 'The Pearls of Cleopatra' to the dramatic storytelling in 'Don Giovanni/Requiem', there's something for everyone. With concerts featuring works by Mozart and Schubert, musicals directed by Max Hopp, and the timeless tale of 'Tom Sawyer', this season promises captivating experiences. Join us as we explore these remarkable events and the talented artists behind them.

Komische Oper Berlin: A Celebration of Music, Drama, and Humor

The Komische Oper Berlin is making waves in the world of performing arts with its diverse and captivating 2025-2026 season. From transformative ballets to operatic masterpieces, this season is a testament to artistic innovation and cultural exploration. Highlights include Marcos Morau's 'Wunderkammer', Mozart's iconic 'Don Giovanni/Requiem', and the world premiere of 'Selemo'. With a cast of talented performers, these events promise to enthrall audiences with their unique interpretations and unforgettable performances.

Exploring Komische Oper Berlin's Dynamic 2025-2026 Season

The Komische Oper Berlin promises a season filled with captivating performances, from surreal ballet to operatic drama, and musical journeys across cultures. With a rich lineup including Marcos Morau's 'Wunderkammer', Mozart's 'Don Giovanni', and Tchaikovsky's 'Eugene Onegin', each event offers a unique window into the world of performing arts. The season also ventures into innovative spaces with world premieres like 'Selemo', showcasing a blend of African and European musical traditions. Discover the stories, talents, and creativity that make this season truly unforgettable.

Komische Oper Berlin: A Symphony of Stories and Cultures

With our chamber concert series, the musicians of the Komische Oper Berlin are presenting intense listening experiences at very special locations: from the festive elegance of the Schiller Theatre to the experimental sound space in the Kindl-Areal, they show their very personal side – beyond the big stage and spectacle.

For drea­ming

Schiller Theater

After bringing Dmitri Shostakovich’s early opera The Nose to life in a wonderfully grotesque staging, Barrie Kosky now turns his attention to a far more radical work by the Russian composer: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, a dark tale of sex and violence featuring one of opera’s most fascinating female characters.

La­dy Mac­beth of Mtsensk

We invite you to a matinee at the Schillertheater and all other venues on Sunday lunchtime two weeks before the premiere (note: exceptions prove the rule!). Directors, conductors, set and costume designers talk about their work and give a foretaste of the upcoming premiere. Of course, there will also be a musical sample or two!

Introductory matinee: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

With stunning natural imagery and attention to every detail, Barrie Kosky presents Tchaikovsky’s soulful drama about the hopes, longings, and failures of four young people who come to realize in the end that happiness was almost within reach.

Eugene Onegin

Rhythm is a Dancer

After the director Herbert Fritsch captivated audiences with an extravagant symphony concert in 2024, this guest concept is now becoming a favourite tradition at the Komische Oper Berlin. This time, the spotlight falls on the charismatic actor Ulrich Matthes, who steps in as concert curator. Under the theme of ‘boldly stepping forth’, he launches the new year with a dazzling programme while offering personal insights into his favourite musical works. Here, the bright optimism of Mozart’s ‘Linz Symphony’ (1st movement) meets the reverent Adagio from Schumann’s Second Symphony. The jazz-infused energy of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F major meets with Bernstein’s playful Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. And after his 2014 performance as a narrator at a symphony concert with the Komische Oper—who knows? This time, Ulrich Matthes just might take the leap into song...

Matthes in charge

In the limelight: Dagmar Manzel and Max Hopp! She plays: operetta diva Manon Cavallini, her suitor Raoul, and the father of her daughter Lucy. He plays: that same Lucy, all five of Cavallini’s lovers, and Lucy’s gallant to boot. In additional roles: Dagmar Manzel and Max Hopp! A breathless tour de force, with the orchestra under Adam Benzwi’s baton igniting a fireworks display of marches, waltzes, and chansons, all from the pen of Oscar Straus.

A Woman Who Knows What She Wants!

In San Francisco, money is tight and old sailors like Jonas are left to sleep rough in the crime-ridden port city. Unexpectedly, the boatman Anatol Brown inherits the Hotel Nevada, the last building yet to fall into the hands of the greedy nightclub magnate, Xonga Miller. The problem is that Anatol’s uncle happens to have accumulated a mountain of debt with her. If Anatol can’t raise the $10,000, his dream of turning the Nevada into a home for retired sailors will come to nothing. With a huge fundraiser involving plenty of booze, the sailors of Frisco ultimately manage to scrape together the money, just in time.

In Fris­co, all Hell's bro­ken out

Don Giovanni knows what he wants, how to get it and how to throw an outrageously decadent party. Servant Leporello groans under the seductive arts of his master, as he has to pay for everything afterwards. When Don Giovanni murders the Commendatore in a duel for the honor of his daughter Donna Anna, Leporello has had enough. Don Giovanni likes to seduce, trick and gamble for his life, until he suddenly has to face death young and wild ...

Don Gio­vanni/­Re­qui­em

When was the Komische Oper Berlin founded? What do they mean by ‘Komische Opera’ or ‘comic opera’? And what’s actually behind the curtains at the Schiller Theatre? You can get answers to all these questions with a guided tour of the Komische Oper Berlin at the Schiller Theatre. Enlightened by fascinating theatre anecdotes, amusing looks back in time, and digital glimpses of the future, we take a closer look at what’s happening behind the scenes. Experience the magic of the stage up close!

Führung Spezial Bühnenbild "Salome"

In the heart of the desert, three fugitive criminals establish the city of Mahagonny. This ‘paradise city’ has its own rules for living life, fueled by the wealth of men passing through from the Gold Coast. Eating, loving, boxing, and drinking are the order of the day. However, this idyllic utopia soon begins to falter, as natural disasters, excesses, violence, and corruption push the city to its breaking point.

Rise and Fall of the City of Maha­gonny

Singing brings joy! Especially in December, when music fills us with that special Christmas spirit, evoking fond nostalgia and eager anticipation. With this concert, you’ll have the chance to join our soloists, musicians, and children’s choir in singing both beloved and lesser-known Christmas carols, ensuring that everyone sails into Christmas with high spirits and a feeling of togetherness.

Sing along!

Richard Strauss had a deep admiration for Don Quixote—a man who hurls himself into every challenge, obstacle, and peril, without ever achieving a final victory. It’s this ‘knightly character’ that Strauss celebrates in his Fantastic Variations from 1897.While Don Quixote longs for a life as a hero, Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune takes us on a sensual journey - this time it is the dreaming faun who is the focus of the symphonic poem. Meanwhile, Ottorino Respighi’s Pini di Roma (1924) offers a sonic tour through the Eternal City, from the Villa Borghese to the Via Appia, always in view of the city’s towering marvels: its pine trees, which weave an evergreen thread through the ancient metropolis. James Gaffigan brings together three fantastic concert works contrasting highly diverse styles, with Strauss crossing the boundaries into modernity and Respighi already channelling in 1924 the future mode of film music. An exhilarating evening awaits!

Dreams of the hero

Konzerthaus Berlin

Long before Oscar Wilde’s interpretation, the figure of Salome already appeared in the Bible. There, the story was about how King Herod, his stepdaughter Salome, and John the Baptist (Jochanaan) each lose their heads—although in very different ways...

Sa­lo­me

Grab your favorite cuddly toy and come along! Because we’re setting off on an adventure with our fluffy friends. We’ve always known deep down that there’s a little spark of life inside our friends Bear, Monkey, Lion, and Tiger, and now, on the big stage, we’ll discover what they get up to when we’re not looking. Get ready for all the surprises they’ve got in store for us!

The cuddly Toy Concert

After the great success of Lonely House, Katharine Mehrling returns to the Komische Oper Berlin with a staged evening of songs by Kurt Weill. While Lonely House was devoted entirely to Weill’s exile in Paris and New York, the focus tonight is on the songs from Weill’s Berlin period, arranged for orchestra by Kai Tietje and staged by Barrie Kosky.

... und mit morgen könnt ihr mich!

From the depths I call

The choreographer Marcos Morau has a unique talent for transforming collective memories into movement and imagery. Renowned for his strikingly surreal visuals, he draws inspiration from a vast array of influences, including literature, photography, and film aesthetics.

Wunder­kammer

Intro­duc­tory Matinee: Wunder­kammer

In 1983, a cry of freedom rang out from Broadway to London and Berlin, heralding the triumph of a musical insisting on the right to a brightly coloured life outside of narrow-minded conventionality.

La Cage aux Folles

Mrs Bertie Bartolotti had intended to spend the evening at the opera with Mr Egon, but now she’ll have to change her plans. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that a misdelivered tin can would turn her into a mother! The Himmelblau company, experts in mass-producing model children, has sent her the Premium Chromo.XY/3859 model, with hair parted to the side and the name Conrad. But what does such a child actually need? And what does he like? Hot peppers? Jellies? Liqueur chocolates? Sardines in oil? Well, best to start by putting a bit of everything on the plate! Conrad loves order and rules, so unfortunately he knows only too well that good children always finish their plates...

Con­rad or The fac­to­ry-made boy

Trio

‘Imagine that the universe is beginning to sound and resonate’, Gustav Mahler once said about his Eighth Symphony. This extraordinary work is often called the ‘Symphony of a Thousand’, because Mahler’s vision called for such a huge ensemble: two mixed choirs, a boys’ choir, eight soloists, a massive orchestra, an organ, and an additional brass section. ‘Veni, creator, spiritus!’ It is with this Pentecost hymn invoking the Holy Spirit that the symphony’s first movement begins. For the second movement, Mahler draws upon the final scene of Goethe’s Faust II: ‘The noble part of the spirit has been saved from evil’. Angels and other celestial ‘flight attendants’ lift Faust’s soul—rescued from the clutches of the devil—up to the realm of the ‘Eternal Feminine’. Faust, an early pioneer of grand visions and soaring ideas, fits perfectly into the industrial architecture of Tempelhof. It is here that Mahler’s Eighth Symphony will truly ‘sound and resonate’ as never before, especially with Music Director James Gaffigan himself in the cockpit, guiding our flight through Mahler’s universe.

The thou­sand at Tem­pel­hof

Tempelhof Airport

The season kicks off at Tempelhof Airport’s Hangar 4, which is opening its portals for another spectacular extravaganza: after last season saw hundreds of choral singers performing Handel’s Messiah, this time we’ve got hundreds of dancers in Jesus Christ Superstar! Director Andreas Homoki and set designer Philipp Stölzl are transforming the space into a monumental rock show, the perfect setting for a real superstar...

Je­sus Christ Su­per­star

Intro­duc­tory Matinee: Jesus Christ Super­star

The Komische Oper Berlin has an opera choir in a class of its own. Awards from the trade magazine "Opernwelt" as opera choir of the year are proof of this, but you really just have to experience them in their full force, the choir soloists of the Komische Oper Berlin. Normally they shine in productions from Handel oratorios to Berlin jazz operettas, dancing cheerfully and playing with great professionalism. In this concert, all forces are focused on their core competence: exquisite choir sound in a class of its own. With great romantic works of the genre by Alexander Zemlinsky and Erich Wolfgang Korngold to rarely heard pieces by Franz Schreker under the direction of choir director David Cavelius.

Symphony Concert: Voices

Komische Oper Berlin @Schillertheater

What could be more practical to escape annoying social obligations than having a friend every now and then who urgently needs our help? Oscar Wilde used this mental sigh to create his last and most popular comedy to date, The Importance of Being Earnest . Gerd Natschinski chose the successful material as the basis for a musical in 1964. Max Hopp is staging this "top work of cheerful musical theater" in the GDR with all its quirks in the tent!

My Friend Bunbury

Mark Twains Kinderbuchklassiker über Freundschaft, wilde Abenteuer, das Erwachsenwerden und die erste zarte Liebe mit der Musik des Deutsch-Amerikaners Kurt Weill.

Tom Sawyer

There is a bittersweet note in the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that people have been struggling to describe for centuries. Is it the happiness in the depths? Or the melancholy in the sweetness? Parallel to Le nozze di Figaro, the Piano Concerto No. 22 is a work that has exactly that character tone and which the Norwegian pianist Christian Ihle Hadland takes on: gripping and dance-like - and not banal for a second. Elena Kats-Chernin's Dance of the Paper Umbrellas opens the program just as light-footed as Mozart. Franz Schubert's 4th Symphony is nicknamed "Tragic", but takes the audience on a dramatic, musically stirring journey. Grażyna Bacewicz's fast-paced overture for orchestra sets the stage. A rollercoaster of (spring) emotions!

Symphony Concert: Spring Feelings

Ernst Reuter Hall

Don Giovanni knows what he wants, how to get it and how to throw an incredibly decadent party. Servant Leporello groans under his master's seductive skills, as he has to pay the price for everything afterwards. When Don Giovanni murders the Commendatore in a duel for the honor of his daughter Donna Anna, Leporello has had enough too. Don Giovanni loves to seduce, trick and play for his life, until suddenly, young and wild, he has to face death...

Don Giovanni/Requiem

It's show time in Berlin! »And of course it is a delight to experience Manzel as a potentate who is ranting from the heart and has at least three hearts beating in her chest: that of the power-conscious boss, that of the love-hungry wife and that of her rather drunken-sounding cat Ingeborg.« [DER TAGESSPIEGEL]

The Pearls of Cleopatra

Florian Illies had his big breakthrough as a chronicler of the German sensibility with his first novel, Generation Golf . Most recently, his feature compilations 1913 and Love in Times of Hate have delighted audiences. These works bring the eras shortly before the world wars to life. Most recently, the trained art historian Illies turned far back into German Romanticism and, in his novel Magic of Silence, based on the life of the painter Caspar David Friedrich, traced an era of German history that bears the seeds of modernity. He presents Friedrich as a painter of God-fearing inwardness on the edge of the abyss of abstraction. The symphony concert Sound of Silence provides the soundtrack and shows that Friedrich was not the only one to take this artistic path.

Symphony Concert: Sound of Silence

In 1983, a cry for liberation resounded from Broadway to London and Berlin, heralding the triumph of a musical that demanded the right to a colorful life beyond stingy pettiness.

Georges runs the nightclub "La Cage aux Folles". The absolute star is his partner, the drag queen Zaza alias Albin. Then Jean-Michel, Georges' son from a previous relationship, shows up: he wants to marry Anne, the daughter of an ultra-conservative family, and, to Albin's great disappointment, asks Georges to go alone to the first meeting with the family. Albin is deeply hurt. But he insists on having dinner together in Jacqueline's restaurant...
Jerry Herman created a classic of the musical genre with an empowerment anthem that gave not only the queer scene the strength to fight for more openness and justice. Directed by Barrie Kosky, the piece becomes an ever-valid plea for the courage to stand up for yourself and for each other!

In 2017, Satyagraha celebrated its acclaimed premiere at the Komische Oper Berlin. Now another work from the opera trilogy by minimal music pioneer Philip Glass is being released, each of which centers on a personality who changed the world: this time it is the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. The director is Barrie Kosky, who has shown not only with Moses and Aron how powerful and approachable the myth can be in contemporary sounds.

Akhenaten (Akhnaten)

Kurt Weill is known here primarily for the works he wrote together with Bertolt Brecht. But his oeuvre encompasses much more than just The Threepenny Opera and The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny . And his musicals written for Broadway are no less revolutionary than the works he wrote in Germany. Influenced by the German musical tradition, the Jewish composer, who was born in Dessau, matured into an artist in the "wild" Berlin of the 1920s and was expelled by the Nazis, had a decisive influence on the new musical. In the Lonely House recital , Katharine Mehrling traces the songs from Kurt Weill's time in exile and brings them back to life, accompanied by Barrie Kosky on the piano.

Lonely House

Helena, the most beautiful woman in the world and wife of King Menelaus, is bored at the court of Sparta when a mysterious - and incredibly attractive - shepherd suddenly appears and brings a lot of life into the shabby place. What else can Helena, the faithful servant of Venus, do but surrender to her fate?

The Beautiful Helena

Archaic and tender at the same time, GAIA-24 . makes us sing and dance for Mother Earth, with string quartet and electric guitar, baroque and techno, and asks: What does war do to nature? After the Ukrainian composer duo Opera Aperta addressed the reconquest of the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant by nature in CHORNOBYLDORF , in GAIA-24 . they devote themselves to the consequences of the demolition of the Kakhovka dam during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

EPSG:4326

GAIA-24. Opera del Mondo

KINDL - Center for Contemporary Art

The perfect date for Valentine's Day with the orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin: magical love dances by Manuel de Falla and the "Eroica" , the heart-wrenching 3rd Symphony by the world-changer Ludwig van Beethoven! In two ballets, de Falla distills the musical essence of the Andalusian soul: The Three-cornered Hat tells the story of a miller's wife who, together with her husband, makes fun of the governor who is in love with her.

Date

Herbert Fritsch kehrt nach Don Giovanni und Der fliegende Holländer an die Komische Oper Berlin zurück, diesmal im Doppelpack mit der deutschen Pop-Ikone Herbert Grönemeyer und einem opulenten, komischen, ebenso absurden wie gewitzten Klamauk über Eugène Labiches Verwechslungskomödie Ein Florentinerhut!

Pferd frisst Hut

Rich Niche is a minibar in a music club. Belgian singer, composer, writer and director Liesa Van der Aa sits with friends over a cappuccino and chats about war, world politics, presidents, the end of the world and personal neuroses. She takes aim at the niche existence of the privileged, exploring questions of humanity, individualism and social injustice, all in a hazy fog of electronica, pop, jazz and Bach

Rich Niche

SchwuZ

Singing together, moving and meeting each other: In three playrooms, four artists from the past two festival editions lead the audience to produce lots of sound and noise together.

Everybody now!

A normal day like any other: three strangers board Gaye Su Akyol's minibus , unaware that the journey will take them... into space! More precisely: the minibus makes a crash landing on the grey planet. Two-headed parrots, talking palm trees and human-like cyborgs populate this colourless and otherwise lifeless world. But what is this surreal universe all about?

Consistent Fantasy is Reality

Heimathafen Neukölln

Glamour, beats and sequins meet autocratic rulers, archaic rituals meet electronic sounds and old acquaintances meet new discoveries, in the good old Komische Oper tradition of daring to strike a balance between pop and experimentation, affirmation and criticism. In the third edition of Schall&Rausch, the Komische Oper Berlin brings opposites together and (un)known faces together!

Schall&Rausch

Engelbert Humperdinck's great fairytale opera for the whole family is back on the stage of the Komische Oper Berlin! In the new production by Dagmar Manzel, the story of the siblings in the forest comes to life again: full of childlike imagination, poetic wit and lots of magic.

Hansel and Gretel

Life is great! And it is cold... on Christmas Eve around 1830, in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The bohemians do not have enough money for the rent, the firewood or the feast. They may be penniless, but they are full of zest for life and their hearts are ablaze - until the finality of death breaks into their easy life...

La Bohème

The catchy and heart-rending melodies of Jewish Klezmer music are the perfect start to the new year - we are sure of that. And Mahler too. Oh yes, Mahler is actually Klezmer! Because the musical language of the Bohemian-born Jewish composer is deeply rooted in the folk music tradition of his homeland. The American Uri Caine and his Klezmer band have known this for a long time and, together with the orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin under the direction of General Music Director James Gaffigan, make us sob inside and tap our feet outside. Great emotions at the interface of the musical worlds at the start of the year. Just let yourself fall in and take the first steps strengthened into the new year 2025 - the year in which everything will be better. Happy New Year!

New Year's Concert: Everything's Ready

Nach sechs Jahren Abenteuerfahrt weiß Robinson, dass nicht nur räuberische Piraten, sondern auch Inselbewohner:innen mit kannibalistischen Tendenzen – Vegetarier, bis sie einen Missionar trafen – ihm den schönen Traum von der weiten Welt zur Hölle machen können. Zum Glück ist da Freitag. Er schwärmt nicht nur des Nachts gemeinsam mit Robinson für die Liebe, sondern ist außerdem besser gewappnet, um auf einer Insel am Orinoco zu überleben. Edwige, Toby und Suzanne sind Robinson aus Bristol nachgereist, wurden von Pirat:innen verfolgt, sind auf der Insel gestrandet und erstmal ihrem alten Nachbarn aus Bristol in die Arme gelaufen. Dieser ist zum kannibalistischen Meisterkoch geworden, der frohen Mutes bereits in der tödlichen Brühe rührt … Mit rauschenden Meeressinfonien und wahnwitzigen Koloraturen wird Daniel Defoes Roman zu einer meisterhaften Offenbachiade. Ein semikonzertanter Spaß zur Weihnachtszeit, der Groß und Klein mundet!

Ro­bin­son Cru­soé

Barrie Kosky's The Magic Flute takes us into its own fantastic world of images. Tamino falls in love with a portrait of Pamina and sets out to save her. Threatened by dragons, enchanted by pink elephants, dancing constellations and flying butterfly boys, The Magic Flute becomes a magical road movie on the way to true love.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera seems to raise more puzzles and questions than it provides answers. It is not for nothing that the "title heroine" of this classic opera is an instrument - because in the end, only music seems to find the right language for the depths of basic human experiences before which logic and reason capitulate. The British theater troupe "1927" and Barrie Kosky tell the story with the help of projected animations as a living picture book in a "deliciously absurd mixture of silent and animated film." [BERLINER MORGENPOST]

The Magic Flute

Lovers in closets, jumping out of windows, nighttime rendezvous: Based on the text of his beloved poet Lorenzo Da Ponte, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed a masterpiece with all the ingredients of a perfect romantic (tragic) comedy - directed by Kirill Serebrennikov.

The Marriage of Figaro

What happens when you give Herbert Fritsch, a brilliant actor and director with a penchant for the wacky, a symphony concert to play? It's impossible to say for sure, but what we can say is that Fritsch is venturing into the concert field! Until recently, his turbulent and absurd Don Giovanni raged through the Behrenstraße as a libertine on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and if Wagner was to be at the Komische, then it was Fritsch. This season he's chasing the Florentine hat alongside Herbert Grönemeyer.

Together with General Music Director James Gaffigan, Fritsch presents György Ligeti's groundbreaking Poème symphonique for 100 metronomes and takes us into his very personal musical world, from Carl Maria von Weber to Iannis Xenakis, with all its rough edges. Don't worry, he won't sing. Well, probably not. We're excited!

Symphony Concert: Herbert Fritsch gives a Concert

In this great musical on the stage of the Schillertheater, director Barrie Kosky proves himself to be a master of the macabre. A musical thriller from Stephen Sondheim that is as bitter as it is lustfully gruesome, about the bloody revenge of the legendary London hairdresser Sweeney Todd. At the side of the title character as the meat pie queen Mrs. Lovett: Dagmar Manzel!

Sweeney Todd

Unterhaltsam ohne jeden Skrupel und mörderisch glamourös! Inszeniert als unwiderstehlichen Sog hinein in das verruchte Chicago der 1920er Jahre entführt der Musicalklassiker Chicago ins trubelige Tagwerk egomanisch getriebener Staranwälte und eiskalter Möchtegern-Celebrities, die für ein bisschen Gesehenwerden auch mal über Leichen gehen. Mehr als 6500 leuchtende Glühbirnen, funkelnde Kostüme und Choreografien mit Strahlkraft machen Barrie Koskys Inszenierung zu einer Hommage an das Showbiz und das Vaudeville. Das Broadway-Musical über zwei todschicke, unschlagbar schlaue und berechnende Frauen entfaltet so all seine künstlerischen Qualitäten in der originalen, orchestral großformatigen Ur-Fassung von 1975.

Chicago

The Pippi Longstocking team is working on another great children's book classic: The Little Witch has been one of the most popular children's books in this country for generations. Composer Franz Wittenbrink captures the title character's quest to become a good witch in tones that are as stirring as they are touching - including market life, a forest animal choir and, of course, Walpurgis Night! Also on hand: the children's choir of the Komische Oper Berlin.

The Little Witch

For the new season, James Gaffigan is bringing a piece of his homeland New York to the Komische Oper Berlin! While our General Music Director has found his adopted home here, many prominent European composers headed for the safe haven of America in the 20th century. New York opened up influential professional opportunities for Antonín Dvořák and Gustav Mahler. Kurt Weill worked on the up-and-coming musical on Broadway. Erich Wolfgang Korngold laid the foundations for the film music genre in Hollywood and his soundtracks inspired film music legend John Williams.

James' Choice

Kleiner Saal

Experience the first chamber concert of the season in an extraordinary setting: the impressive Hangar 4 of the former Tempelhof Airport. Following on from this year's production of MESSIAH , the musicians of the orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin, together with chamber singer Karolina Gumos (mezzo-soprano), present masterful works by Handel, such as the impressive cantata Donna, che in ciel and the aria Haec est Regina virginium . The program is rounded off by works by other baroque greats such as Antonio Vivaldi and Henry Purcell. In the monumental industrial hall, baroque sounds merge with the rough aesthetics of the historic location and transform the concert into an unforgettable experience. Experience baroque in a new way!

Handel in the Hangar!

After the Komische Oper Berlin gave the thrilling start to a series of major productions at Tempelhof Airport with The Raft of the Medusa , an absolute classic of music history will follow in 2024: Georg Friedrich Handel's MESSIAH . It is hard to believe that the creation of this global success took place at a time that was by no means promising for the composer: rival opera companies, bankruptcies, a London audience that grew tired of Italian opera and then a stroke! Handel's response to this life crisis seems all the more impressive.

Messiah

Join us for a captivating evening of music and drama as the Komische Oper Berlin presents "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" (The Abduction from the Seraglio) by the legendary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This timeless opera, known for its enchanting melodies and thrilling storyline, promises an unforgettable experience that transcends time and place.

Under the skilled direction of Conductor Patrick Lange, the orchestra will bring Mozart's compositions to life, setting the stage for a night of exceptional music and storytelling. Lange's expertise will guide the audience through the intricate emotions and dynamics of the opera, making each note resonate with passion and intensity.

Soprano Louise Fribo, taking on the role of BLONDE, will grace the stage with her enchanting voice and exquisite talent. Her portrayal of this beloved character promises to be a highlight of the evening, adding depth and emotion to the story.
Set in the magnificent Komische Oper Berlin in the heart of Berlin, Germany, this production of "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" promises to transport you to a world of intrigue, love, and adventure. Whether you are a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this performance is a must-see event that will leave you spellbound.

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of Mozart's music and the brilliance of the Komische Oper Berlin. Book your tickets now for an evening that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. Experience the magic of "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" as it unfolds before your eyes, leaving you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Die Entführung aus dem Serail

Komische Oper Berlin

A domineering linguistics professor transforms a rough-and-tumble flower seller into a refined lady—what a romance! And as a musical, it’s been an unmatched success, enchanting audiences worldwide for nearly seventy years, thanks to Shaw’s brilliant story and Loewe’s unforgettable melodies.

My Fair Lady

Into the light, into beauty, into life! Spring symbolizes the power of transformation, rebirth, and the ancient promise of coming prosperity. What could this dream of abundance mean for us culturally, spiritually, and sonically, beyond national boundaries? With their chamber opera Selemo, the South African composers and performers Sbusiso Shozi and Nhlanhla Mahlangu from Johannesburg’s Centre for the Less Good Idea are taking a new approach to the idea of spring, exploring it through body, sound, and voice. Together with soloists and orchestral musicians from the Komische Oper Berlin, they’re sparking a musical conversation about returning to a more deeply rooted understanding of nature, one that goes beyond the dictates of the colonial calendar. African rites of passage meet baroque splendour when Vivaldi’s Four Seasons intertwine with the Umkhosi woMhlanga, the ritual reed dance of the Swazi. The world premiere of Selemo, co-produced with the Neuköllner Oper, is about new beginnings, creative exchanges, and shared celebrations.

Selemo

Neuköllner Oper

Destitute and directionless, Australian musician Nick Cave arrived in West Berlin in the 1980s, plunging himself into the city’s drug scene and emerging as an underground legend. His 1988 album Tender Prey, created with The Bad Seeds during his Berlin years, now undergoes a romantic symphonic synthesis as part of the Schall&Rausch festival. In the subterranean chamber of the former Kindl brewery, the orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin – under the baton of Music Director James Gaffigan – juxtaposes the pitch-black death wish of a post-punk junkie against the world-weariness of Franz Schubert’s lonely wanderer. Songs of futility and farewell from Schubert’s 1827 song cycle Winterreise, in Hans Zender’s orchestral arrangement, resonate with a sharp chill as they repeatedly pierce through Nick Cave’s brooding soundtrack.

Cave meets Schubert

Vollgutlager Berlin

When drag performer Meo Wulf joins the Komische Oper’s orchestral musicians and opera studio singers on a musical journey at the queer cathedral of SchwuZ, you know that love is in the air! Who better than the Queen of Love herself to lead us through a Valentine’s celebration in this extraordinary venue? With her exuberant lip-syncing, Meo Wulf masterfully blends declarations of love from every genre into a dazzling drag performance –followed by an electrifying afterparty!

Queen of Love

Engelbert Humperdinck’s celebrated fairy-tale opera for the whole family has returned to the stage of the Komische Oper Berlin! In this new production by Dagmar Manzel, the story of the siblings lost in the forest burgeons with fresh new life, full of childlike imagination, poetic wit, and plenty of magic.

If you listen closely, you’ll hear—hidden within the thicket of certain melodies—the most wondrous creatures and characters, including sparkling fairies, wicked witches, and enchanted birds. With creepy-crawlies lurking in every corner, we’re going on an adventure through a magical forest with various musicians from our orchestra. We’re sure to encounter some rarely seen creatures along the way. You won’t want to miss it!

Enchanted Forest

Anyone can sit in the auditorium! But dancing on stage? Only you can do that! At our Opera Ball.

The Ball of the Komi­sche Oper Berlin

Meta­mor­phoses

Intro­duc­tory Matinee: Bel­shazzar

Director Barrie Kosky plunges us into a nightmarish, wildly exaggerated satire, with marching noses, rolling rickshaw tables, and caricatured protagonists in garish costumes that straddle folklore and historicism, all unfolding within a cold, bleak setting that feels claustrophobic despite its size. This surrealist story of the insecure and paranoid upstart Platon Kuzmich Kovalyov is transformed into a absurd, kaleidoscopic revue of the vanities, an unsettling collision of Wozzeck and Alice in Wonderland with its own ‘irrational’ logic.

The Nose

The ruling strongman is back—the kind of man who wipes the slate clean, knocks things over, takes action, and grabs what he wants, all while feeling magnificent, youthful, and cheerfully destructive. King Belshazzar was one such figure, a despotic ruler from biblical times...

Bel­shazzar

Nils Holgersson is flying away with the geese! In this children’s opera by Elena Kats-Chernin and Susanne Felicitas Wolf, our shrunken hero scampers through plenty of adventures alongside his friend Martin, a domestic goose, and turns out to be bigger than he thought in the end!

Nils Hol­gers­son’s Won­drous Ad­ven­tures

When the activist, poet, and musician Moor Mother released her album Analog Fluids of Sonic Black Holes in 2019, she broke new ground with an avant-garde work that combined hip-hop, punk rock, dissonance, and noise music like never before, addressing themes of racism, oppression, and social injustice with both artistry and urgency. The auditory journey ranged from reflections on human existence to the titular exploration of the universe. In 2022, this experimental album was adapted into an orchestral arrangement for the classical concert stage by the string quintet Wooden Elephant. At the Komische Oper Berlin, that adaptation is being juxtaposed against one of the most iconic works of Romantic music: Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. Through Tchaikovsky, Moor Mother’s social critique expands into the individual’s personal struggle against the relentless force of fate. A concert of profound human insight and cosmic scale awaits!

The echoes of fate

Violetta Valéry sells her time and body to clients both near and far. Her life as a Parisian courtesan provides her with every luxury. But when she is diagnosed with a terminal illness, her world is shattered in an instant…

La traviata

Intro­duc­tory Matinee: Orlando

As spring gathers apace in May, the Komische Oper presents one of the twentieth century’s pivotal masterpieces: Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. A ballet depicting a springtime sacrificial ritual, it’s still one of the modern repertoire’s most imposing works, featuring intricate rhythms and bold melodies. The American conductor Tito Muñoz is also bringing us a fascinating work from across the Atlantic. While Stravinsky was scandalizing early twentieth-century Europe with his expressionist ballets, the Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas—much less well known in Germany—was crafting his own orchestral masterpiece, Sensemayá, likewise inspired by ancient dance rituals. In addition, the soprano Josefine Mindus returns to the Komische Oper with Brett Dean’s contemporary Shakespearean meditation And Once I Played Ophelia. And what better way to conclude the evening than with Charles Ives’ existential inquiry, The Unanswered Question?

Spring!

Imagine being immortal and witnessing four centuries of history firsthand—first as a man, then as a woman...

Or­lan­do

In this project, the Komische Oper Berlin is working with children from welcome classes at primary schools in Berlin. Over the course of a school term, we playfully explore the concert piece Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. Children who have recently arrived in Germany also learn the German language in an imaginative way through music. The highlight of the project is the bilingual performance (German/Arabic; German/Ukrainian) of Peter and the Wolf. A moving concert experience to which the children of the welcome classes are invited together with their parents and the whole school.

Peter and the Wolf

Love!

After the great success of Gisela, Hit of the Trade Fair, director Axel Ranisch is once again reviving East Germany’s ‘light-hearted music theatre’ at the Komische Oper!

Mocha Hits and Milk Bar Dreams

Berliner Sing Along

In Me­mo­riam

When the Parisian composer Lili Boulanger took Psalm 130 ‘Du fond de l’abîme’ and set it to music in a darkly opulent, lyrical style, she was already acutely aware that her life—marked by serious illness but wholly dedicated to music—would not be long. In his own Requiem Op. 48, Gabriel Fauré (an early admirer and supporter of Boulanger’s exceptional talent) sought to depict death as peaceful and consoling. With subtle nuance and great depth, the choral soloists of the Komische Oper Berlin, led by choir director David Cavelius, are presenting late Romantic masterpieces of French sacred music. Meanwhile, the renowned Latvian organist Iveta Apkalna will unlock the radiant power of the Konzerthaus organ with Francis Poulenc’s expressive Concerto for Organ in G minor.

Sacre Choir

It has been a tradition for decades that the students of the Staatliche Ballett- und Artistikschule Berlin present the results of their training work in a festive gala held every year on the stages of Berlin’s opera houses. From the youngest to the graduates, the school’s students are involved in a programme that shows the multifaceted nature of professional dance education, while challenging the adolescent artists to present what they can do and show how they are enjoying themselves in their unique vocation.

Komische Oper Berlin

Jan 31 - Mar 14, 2026

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Feb 7 - Mar 21, 2026

My Fair Lady

Feb 12 - Mar 1, 2026

Selemo

Feb 13, 2026

Cave meets Schubert

Feb 14, 2026

Queen of Love

Feb 2, 2026

For dreaming

Jan 31 - Mar 14, 2026

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Articles & News

Komische Oper Berlin

Komische Oper Berlin

Jan 31 - Mar 14, 2026

La­dy Mac­beth of Mtsensk

Feb 7 - Mar 21, 2026

My Fair Lady

Feb 12 - Mar 1, 2026

Selemo

Feb 13, 2026

Cave meets Schubert

Feb 14, 2026

Queen of Love

Feb 2, 2026

For drea­ming

Jan 31 - Mar 14, 2026

La­dy Mac­beth of Mtsensk

Articles & News

Komische Oper Berlin

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

For dreaming

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk