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An opera season for Europe: The ARTE Opera Season presents an array of outstanding productions from the continent’s greatest opera houses – some of them classics, some of them exciting new discoveries, with new productions every month, available in six languages. Savour the opulence, the passion, the magic of this unparalleled art form in a brand new season of ARTE Opera – exclusively on ARTE Concert.

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The European opera season

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The literary source for Richard Strauss’s opera immortalizing the degeneracy of Herodes Antipas, King of Judea, and his step-daughter Salome, was supplied by Oscar Wilde. It tells of Herodes, who is keeping the prophet Jochanaan captive inside a cistern. Salome tries to seduce him and on being rebuffed, forces her stepfather to serve her the prophet’s head on a silver platter.

Directed by Christof Loy in Helsinki

Rejected by the prophet Jochanaan, Salome forces her abusive stepfather to exact revenge.

Richard Strauss: Salome

Live from the Teatro Real in Madrid, an adaptation of Prokofiev’s flamboyant masterpiece by the ever-radical Calixto Bieito.

An adaptation of Sergei Prokofiev’s flamboyant masterpiece by radical director Calixto Bieito.

Prokofiev’s "The Fiery Angel" at the Teatro Real in Madrid

Long-neglected works from several centuries of operatic history have long been a staple of the internationally acclaimed annual opera festival in the little Irish coastal town of Wexford.Having been forced to take a break last year, the festival has a rediscovered work by the important Italian composer Alfredo Catalani on this year’s programme: Edmea.

Wexford Festival Opera 2021

Wexford Opera Festival proudly presents a rediscovered, long forgotten work by Alfredo Catalani.

Alfredo Catalani: Edmea

Conductor Raphaël Pichon and director Cyril Teste team up to bring Beethoven’s Fidelio to the stage of the Opéra Comique.

Beethoven’s only opera conducted by Raphaël Pichon.

Beethoven's "Fidelio" at the Opéra Comique

Trailer

Savour the opulence, the passion, the magic of this unparalleled art form in a brand new season of ARTE Opera – exclusively on ARTE Concert.

ARTE Opera Season 2021-2022

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40 microphones for the orchestra, 20 microphones for the choir, one camera for the conductor and 1000 meters of 10 gigabit fiber optic cable: This is how the "sound transmission from next door" of the Zurich Opera works. The orchestra and choir broadcast live from the rehearsal room on Kreuzplatz to the auditorium of the opera house.

Zurich Opera House

40 microphones for the orchestra, 20 microphones for the choir, one camera for the conductor and 1000 meters of fiber optic cable.

The way of the sound

The year is 1830 and the ruling Zurich pastor doesn’t want a theatre in his city. The citizenry find this situation intolerable and decide to establish a “TheaterAktiengesellschaft” – an ingenious move involving the creation of a joint-stock company that enabled the inhabitants of the city to build a theatre. Sixty years later, the building burns down and everyone is happy. How can that be?

What you’ve always wanted to know about the Zurich Opera House but never dared to ask: time to take stock...

Let’s take stock

What happens to all the costumes at the end of the season?The nimble-fingered ladies of the Costume Shop unlock the ozone closet and demonstrate vodka spray.What you always wanted to know about the Opernhaus, but were afraid to ask:The team of Opernhaus Zürich reveals all.

What you always wanted to know about the Opernhaus, but were afraid to ask:The Repertoire Costume Shop.

The Ladies of the Repertoire Costume Shop

New shoes should be taken good care of. “Certainly not!” screams the pointe shoe.Because the pointe shoe is tough – having been cut, kneaded, beaten, and stitched.All for its own good of course.What you always wanted to know about the Opernhaus, but were afraid to ask:the team of Opernhaus Zürich reveals all.

What you always wanted to know about the Opernhaus, but were afraid to ask: The Pointe Shoe.

The Life of a Pointe Shoe

Not only in the auditorium, there are many seats in an opera house. Who takes a seat where when any why in the opera house during the course of a working day? The Zurich Opera House answers in a new episode of: What you always wanted to know about the opera house, but never dared to ask.

What you always wanted to know about the opera house, but never dared to ask.

Chairs, Stools, and other Seats

A lyrical mezzo-soprano and sonorous baritone sing a musical in an opera house.Or is it an operetta? Categorizing works according to genre is not always easy, but it can be extremely important.What are the different disciplines for singers and how are they assigned? What you always wanted to know about the Opernhaus, but were afraid to ask:The team of Opernhaus Zürich reveals all.

What you always wanted to know about the Opernhaus, but were afraid to ask: The Voice.

The voice

In six minutes, the curtain rises - a stressful moment for every opera singer. Tenor Benjamin Bernheim, baritone Huw Montague Rendall and conductor Speranza Scappucci explain how they deal with their stage fright. What you always wanted to know about an opera house, but never dared to ask: employees of the Zurich Opera House answer.

What you always wanted to know about an opera house, but never dared to ask.

Stage fright

Over a ton of artificial fir trees must go on the stage of the Zurich Opera House. They are needed for "La bohème". But not every person in Zurich understands why day in and day out there’s an opera truck driving through the city. What you always wanted to know about an opera house, but never dared to ask: employees of the Zurich Opera House answer.

What you always wanted to know about an opera house but never dared to ask.

Scenography

Puking geese, gutted pigs and almost real crows - Andreas Gatzka is the "Gyro Gearloose" at the studios of the Zurich Opera House. He creates illusions on stage that put the visions of the directors to life. What you always wanted to know about an opera house, but never dared to ask: employees of the Zurich Opera House answer.

Theatre Magic

Andreas Homoki, Director of the Zurich Opera House, will remain in office until 2025. The contract extension was announced by the Board of Directors of the Zurich Opera House on 2 July 2018. The contract renewal of ballet director Christian Spuck was also announced. Gianandrea Noseda succeeds Fabio Luisi as General Music Director from 2021.

Director Andreas Homoki and ballet director Christian Spuck have extended their contracts.

Zurich Opera House: Team 2021

The Opernhaus Zurich is Switzerland’s largest cultural institution.

Scarcely any other opera house is as tradition-conscious as is the Vienna State Opera.

Vienna State Opera

This year’s opera festival in the little seaside town of Wexford in Ireland was originally to have been devoted to operatic adaptations of Shakespeare. But like so many other festivals in this pandemic year, Wexford Festival Opera had to rethink its entire concept. No longer able to welcome opera lovers from all over the world, it relaunched the festival on the internet under the banner of “Waiting for Shakespeare ... The Festival in the air.”

This year’s opera festival in the little seaside town of Wexford in Ireland was originally to have been devoted to operatic adaptations of Shakespeare.

Wexford Festival Opera – Waiting for Shakespeare

The little town of Wexford, just two hours away from Dublin, is home to an opera festival like no other.

Wexford Festival Opera

 In the language of love, actions (and looks) speak louder than words. The essence of Così fan tutte lies in the gap between what is said and not said. Mozart's superb music is more enlightening than Da Ponte's mischievous words. Theatre director David Hermann turns this exploration of the twists and turns of desire first staged in the late 18th century into a romantic odyssey through time and the tumults of the first half of the 20th century.

Opéra national du Rhin

Theatre director David Hermann turns this exploration of the twists and turns of desire first staged in the late 18th century into a romantic odyssey through time and the tumults of the first half of the 20th century.

Così fan tutte - Trailer

British composer Howard Moody has devised a new opera commissioned by the OnR and inspired by The Conference of Birds (1171) by the Persian poet Farid al-Din Attar. For this family-friendly musical adventure, its designers Sandra Pocceschi and Giacomo Strada bring to the stage school students from the Meinau district, hearing-impaired children, and young singers from the Maîtrise du Conservatoire de Strasbourg, who join the four soloists. Recommended for ages 5 and over.

British composer Howard Moody has devised a new opera commissioned by the OnR and inspired by The Conference of Birds (1171) by the Persian poet Farid al-Din Attar.

Lunar Lake - Trailer

Written towards the end of the First World War on both sides of Europe, the bewitching melodies of Love, the Magician (1915) and The Diary of One Who Disappeared (1921) offer passionate fantasies on free-spirited, mysterious love. The American stage director Daniel Fish ties all this together in a single show closely assisted by choreographer Manuel Liñán and by Arthur Lavandier, who has composed a new orchestration for Janáček's cycle.

The bewitching melodies of Love, the Magician (1915) and The Diary of One Who Disappeared (1921) offer passionate fantasies on free-spirited, mysterious love.

The Diary of One Who Disappeared / Love, the Magician - Trailer

On a new score by Philip Glass, one of the major composers of American minimalism, choreographers Amir Hosseinpour and Jonathan Lunn reinvent and reinterpret the phantasmagorical universe of “Alice in Wonderland”, imagined by Lewis Carroll.

On a new score by Philip Glass,  choreographers Amir Hosseinpour and Jonathan Lunn reinvent and reinterpret “Alice in Wonderland”.

Alice – Trailer

Two friends set off in search of art and love in the realm of the birds, which is as colourful as it is unreal. At first glance, Walter Braunfels’s Late Romantic opera Die Vögel (The Birds) has all the ingredients necessary of an amusing adventure story.  The staging is the work of American director Ted Huffman, who has considerable experience of rarely performed works and premieres. At the rostrum will be the young Uzbek conductor, Aziz Shokhakimov, who took over as musical and artistic director of the Strasbourg Philharmonic in 2021. This will be their first performance under his baton at the Strasbourg Opera.

Two friends set off in search of art and love in the realm of the birds, which is as colourful as it is unreal. 

The Birds - Trailer

"I hate everyone! I am naughty!" After refusing to do his homework, a child is sent to the attic hungry until bedtime. Maurice Ravel gave each magic spell dreamed up by Collette a color and a musical style. Jazz, a waltz, a Spanish dance, a neoclassical sarabande, and soaring lyrics unfurl one after the other in a kaleidoscopic opera that will tour the Grand Est region in this intimate production featuring the singers of the Opéra Studio and four musicians.

The Child and the Spells – Trailer

In Seville, men know only one name: Carmen. The sensual cigar maker ignites the imagination and turns heads. Carmen remains an inexhaustible masterpiece. Born under the pen of Mérimée, the attractive gypsy has become, thanks to Bizet's opera, the universal symbol of female freedom claimed loud and clear, without compromise. Director Jean-François Sivadier reconnects with the essence of this burning drama in a festive and theatrical spectacle.

Photo: © Klara Beck

Director Jean-François Sivadier reconnects with the essence of this burning drama in a festive and theatrical spectacle.

"Carmen" by Bizet – Trailer

For his first major choreographic work, Bruno Bouché takes up the narrative and emblematic motifs of the Wim Wenders cult film before exploring the mystery of the incarnation in the second part - development of the "to be continued ..." which closes the movie. This large fresco, bringing together all the dancers of the Ballet of the Opéra national du Rhin, thus balances between poetic evocation and exaltation of the weightless body.

Photo: © Agathe Poupeney

For his first major choreographic work, Bruno Bouché uses the narrative framework and emblematic motifs of the Wim Wenders cult film.

The Wings of Desire - Trailer

Franz Schubert forever marked the history of music with his romantic imprint. Despite his early death at the age of thirty-one, he is the author of a flowing work of more than a thousand pieces. In a scenography by the painter Silvère Jarrosson, the dancer-choreographers of the Ballet de l'OnR deploy their artistic worlds through a musical dramaturgy around the figure and the work of Schubert imagined by the pianist Bruno Anguera Garcia.
Photo: © Agathe Poupeney

The dancer-choreographers of the Ballet de l'OnR deploy the artistic universe of Schubert’s work.

Dancing Schubert in the 21st Century - Trailer

Composed by Giuseppe Verdi a few months before “Rigoletto”, “Stiffelio” provoked the wrath of censorship, who viewed with a very negative eye this story that combined adultery and religious fanaticism. Sacrificed and crippled on the altar of decorum, its original version was only rediscovered at the end of the 1960s. This little-known masterpiece is presented in a torrential lock-up imagined by director Bruno Ravella , with Andrea Sanguineti conducting.

Photo: © Klara Beck

This little-known masterpiece is presented in a torrential lock-up dreamed up by director Bruno Ravella.

"Stiffelio" by Verdi - Trailer

From September 2021 at the Opéra national du Rhin: The first opera by Hans Abrahamsen, based on the tale by Hans Christian Andersen.Beyond the Arctic Circle lives the mysterious Snow Queen, alone, in her ice palace defended by a formidable army of snowflakes. One day, she kidnaps little Kay whose heart, wounded by the debris of an ancient evil mirror, has become as callous as an iceberg. His friend Gerda, with whom he shared his childhood games, goes looking for him ...

From September 2021 at the Opéra national du Rhin: The first opera by Hans Abrahamsen, based on the tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

"The Snow Queen" by Abrahamsen - Trailer

One institution, three cities – the Opéra national du Rhin has three opera houses in three Alsatian cities: Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse.

“Don Giovanni” is one of the most important works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Alexander Mørk-Eidem dares to create a new production at the location of the premiere: the Prague Estates Theater. The Swedish director is the first non-Czech who is allowed to dare a new interpretation in the halls of its creation with German Mozart specialist Karsten Januschke conducting. The premiere will take place on August 28, 2021.

Czech National Theatre

“Don Giovanni” is one of the most important works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Alexander Mørk-Eidem dares the new production at the location of the world premiere.

Don Giovanni – Trailer

Tchaikovsky's great fairy tale ballet The Sleeping Beauty became world famous thanks to the choreography by Marius Petipa. The Czech National Ballet is now showing the adaptation of the legendary prima ballerina Marcia Haydée, long-time dance partner of Nureyev and Baryshnikov.

The Czech National Ballet

The Czech National Ballet shows the adaptation of the legendary prima ballerina Marcia Haydée.

The Sleeping Beauty - Trailer

The Knight Dalibor of Kozojedy appears before his judges. As his case is tried in court, the people grow increasingly angry. In this opera, Bedřich Smetana tells the story of an avenger figure from Czech history, whom he elevates to the rank of national hero. The opera is conducted by Jaroslav Kyzlink while Jiří Nekvasil signs the stage direction.

In this opera, Bedřich Smetana tells the story of an avenger figure from Czech history.

Dalibor - Trailer

The production of the Czech State Opera shows the legendary sets from the production by Josef Svoboda from 1947. This set was reconstructed in 1999 by Daniel Dvořák, the then director of the State Opera and a pupil of Svoboda, for this historical staging of the great Puccini classic.

Czech State Opera

The production of the Czech State Opera shows the legendary sets from the production by Josef Svoboda from 1947.

Tosca - Trailer

The Czech National Theatre has three opera houses at its disposal: the National Theatre, the State Opera that reopened in 2020 and the Estates Theatre.

Prague National Theatre

Built in 1897, the Teatro Massimo is Italy’s largest opera house.

Teatro Massimo

In 2019 the Paris National Opera celebrated its 350th anniversary. 

Paris National Opera

The name of this Paris institution stands for a whole subgenre of opera.

Opéra Comique

The Bayerische Staatsoper is steeped in tradition and ranks among the world’s leading opera houses.

Bavarian State Opera

Thanks to television and online streaming the opera house reaches viewers all over Finland – and indeed all over the world.

Finnish National Opera

An adaptation of Prokofiev’s flamboyant masterpiece by the ever-radical Calixto Bieito. Seldom performed because of its complexity, Prokofiev’s work is a genuine event whenever it finds creators that are equal to its demands, which are served here by two soloists who truly inhabit their role: Lithuanian soprano Aušrinė Stundytė and British baritone Leigh Melrose. 

Teatro Real Madrid

An adaptation of Prokofiev’s flamboyant masterpiece by the ever-radical Calixto Bieito.

The Fiery Angel - Trailer

An interview with the Lithuanian soprano Ausrine Stundyte. Since its premiere in 1954, more than a year after Prokofiev’s death, the critics have deemed The Fiery Angel to be his most ambitious and powerful opera, with orchestral writing of rare density. The Russian composer and conductor was inspired by the 1907 novel of the same name by the poet Valery Briousov, one of the leading lights of Russian symbolism.

"The Fiery Angel" at the Teatro Real

An interview with the Lithuanian soprano Ausrine Stundyte.

Interview Ausrine Stundyte

An interview with conductor Gustavo Gimeno. Since its premiere in 1954, more than a year after Prokofiev’s death, the critics have deemed The Fiery Angel to be his most ambitious and powerful opera, with orchestral writing of rare density. The Russian composer and conductor was inspired by the 1907 novel of the same name by the poet Valery Briousov, one of the leading lights of Russian symbolism.

An interview with conductor Gustavo Gimeno.

Interview Gustavo Gimeno

An interview with British baritone Leigh Melrose. Since its premiere in 1954, more than a year after Prokofiev’s death, the critics have deemed The Fiery Angel to be his most ambitious and powerful opera, with orchestral writing of rare density. The Russian composer and conductor was inspired by the 1907 novel of the same name by the poet Valery Briousov, one of the leading lights of Russian symbolism.

An interview with British baritone Leigh Melrose. 

Interview Leigh Melrose

The Teatro Real is considered as one of the most important institutions of Spanish theatre world.

Teatro Real

The Royal Opera House Covent Garden belongs to the crème de la crème of world opera. 

Royal Opera House

As the opera house was comprehensively overhauled in 2012, it meets the requirements of a modern-day theatre in every possible respect.

Lausanne Opera

It's a long way from the idea of ​​a production to the final opera performance on stage. Cultural journalist Jan Peter Gehrckens accompanied the rehearsals of David Bösch's new “Manon” at the Hamburg State Opera. This shows how singers, orchestra and director bring a beloved classic to life on stage.

A look behind the scenes

In January 2020, the Hamburg State Opera recorded "Manon" under the current Covid restrictions.

Manon at the Hamburg State Opera

The opera house on the Gänsemarkt is one of Hamburg’s most important cultural institutions, and one steeped in tradition.

Hamburg State Opera

During Richard Wagner’s seven years here he staged the premieres of both Der Fliegender Holländer and Tannhäuser.

Semperoper Dresden

National opera since 1963, La Monnaie maintains a strong multicultural identity.

La Monnaie/De Munt

Founded on the boulevard Unter den Linden in 1742 at the behest of King Frederick II of Prussia, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden is one of the German capital’s most illustrious cultural institutions. 

Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Catalonia’s number one opera house, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, is centrally located on Barcelona’s world-famous boulevard Las Ramblas.

Gran Teatre del Liceu

The highlight of the Holland Festival 2021 is a rediscovery from the pen of the composer Rudi Stephan (1887–1915). The opera Die ersten Menschen (The First Humans) is about Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and humanity’s ur-conflicts. Spanish director Calixto Bieito is taking care of the stagingand François-Xavier Roth is to make his debut as conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Dutch National Opera

François-Xavier Roth conducts Rudi Stephan’s opera at the Holland Festival 2021.

The First Humans - Trailer

The Dutch National Opera produces world-class music theatre and is well known for its artistically ambitious and innovative productions.

Mozart, played in the courtyard of the Palais de l'archevêché, has thus remained a fixture of the festival to this day.

Aix-en-Provence Festival

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Don Pasquale is a dotty but wealthy old man, eager to have one last lusty shot at love.The young Norina and Ernesto are blissfully in love, but without so much as two pennies to rub together.A physician friend has the perfect answer to their troubles and hatches a scheme that will give all three players in this love triangle their heart’s desire.The rich old man wants a beautiful young wife, but the beautiful young wife wants his charming young nephew instead – although the money would be nice…
The title role of Don Pasquale is sung by Ambrogio Maestri, one of the great character singers of our time, who last thrilled audiences in Hamburg in 2020, when he sang his signature role of Falstaff in Verdi’s opera of that name. Like him, Danielle de Niese makes regular guest appearances at opera houses across the globe from Vienna to New York. Here the soprano sings the part of Norina alongside Levy Sekgapane as Ernesto, Kartal Karagedik as Dottore Malatesta, and Jóhann Kristinsson as the notary. At the rostrum will be Matteo Beltrami, who together with the Philharmonische Staatsorchester Hamburg will breathe new life into Donizetti’s score.
The staging is the work of David Bösch, who made his debut in Hamburg with his 2021 production of Manon.The stage set and costumes were designed by Patrick Bannwart and Falko Herold, who have collaborated with Bösch on countless productions.
ARTE‘s airing of this premiere of Don Pasquale ushers in its birthday week: It was thirty years ago, on 30 May 1992, that ARTE first began broadcasting. "Don Pasquale" is available during the livestream with subtitles in German, English, French, Spanish, Italian and Polish. You can select the subtitles in the ARTE player.
Recording from the Staatsoper Hamburg on 29 May 2022.
Photo: © Chris Dunlop

Hamburg, Germany

Subtitles are available in six languages | The Staatsoper Hamburg’s new production of Gaetano Donizetti’s opera buffa "Don Pasquale" is directed by David Bösch.The plot of this turbulent comedy turns on the title character and his nemesis sung by Italian baritone Ambrogio Maestri and Australian soprano Danielle de Niese respectively.The Philharmonische Staatsorchester Hamburg will be conducted by Matteo Beltrami.