With 2018 beginning there is so much to look forward to as many of the greatest stars will take on new roles while others will reprise signature parts in new productions alongside star-studded casts. The following is a look at some of the most anticipated new and revival productions that are all likely to create buzz and conversations around the world. Note that this only includes productions included as part of the 2017-18 season, so late-year showcases are not included and 2018-19 opening productions have also been excluded.

11. “Il Pirata” at the Teatro alla Scala

Sonya Yoncheva has become one of the biggest stars in opera and this year she takes on her second Bellini heroine. Christof Loy directs the new production of “Il Pirata” with Piero Pretti and Nicola Alaimo rounding out the cast. Riccardo Frizza conducts the first production of the work at La Scala since 1958 when Maria Callas triumphed in the work.

Performance dates: June 29-July 19

10. “Tosca” at the Metropolitan Opera

The new David McVicar production may have already opened at the Metropolitan Opera but in 2018 there is still reason to still look forward to this production. Anna Netrebko makes her anticipated role debut as Tosca, a work fans and critics alike have waited to see the diva in for years. She will be accompanied by Marcelo Alvarez and Michael Volle as the villainous Scarpia. Bertrand de Billy conducts.

Performances dates: April 21-May 12

9. “The Rise and Fall of Mahagonny” at the Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo

Kurt Weill’s 1930 opera makes its debut in Bogotá, Colombia at the Teatro Mayor in an acclaimed production by Marcelo Lombardero. The opera will star an all Latin American cast including Evelyn Ramírez, Pedro Espinoza, Hernán Iturralde, Gustavo López Manzitti, María Victoria Gaeta and Homero Pérez Miranda. David Syrus conducts all three performances.

Performance dates: February 27-March 3

8. “Ernani” at the Teatro alla Scala

Verdi’s early masterpiece will be revived at the Teatro alla Scala in Sven-Eric Bechtolf new production. Rising star Ailyn Pérez makes her role debut at Elvira while Francesco Meli takes on the title role. Ildar Abdrazakov and Simone Piazzola round out the cast with Adam Fischer conducting.

Performance dates: September 29-October 25

7. The Ring Cycle at the San Francisco Opera

Evelyn Herlitzius makes her San Francisco Opera debut headlining Francesca Zambello’s Ring Cycle. Donald Runnicles conducts the production which is set to star Daniel Brenna as Siegfried and Falk Struckmann as Alberich. Greer Grimsley returns to his signature as Wotan/The Wanderer while Karita Mattila is Sieglinde. Brandon Jovanovich as Froh and Siegmund and Jamie Barton as Fricka and Waltraute round out the cast.

Performance dates: June 12-July 1

6.  “Maria Stuarda” at the Zurich Opera

After triumphs as Lucia di Lammermoor and Linda di Chamonix, Diana Damrau takes on her first Tudor queen in Donizetti’s masterpiece at the Zurich Opera. The soprano will be accompanied by Serena Farnocchia as her rival Elisabetta and Pavol Breslik as Leicester. Nicolas Testé rounds out the cast in David Alden’s new production. Enrique Mazzola conducts.

Performance dates: April 8-May 12

5. “L’Africaine” at Opera Frankfurt

Michael Spyres continues his exploration into the French repertoire in Meyerbeer’s rarely performed work. Tobias Kratzer directs a new production for Opera Frankfurt which is also set to star Claudia Mahnke, Brian Mulligan, and Kirsten MacKinnon. Antonello Manacorda conducts the new production.

Performance dates: February 25-April 2

4. “Samson et Dalila” at the Vienna State Opera

Elina Garanca and Roberto Alagna team up for a new production of Saint Saëns masterpiece after successes in “Carmen” and “La Navarraise.” Both artists make role debuts in a production by Alexandra Liedtke at the Vienna State Opera. Marco Armiliato conducts the starry cast with which is rounded out by star baritone Carlos Alvarez.

Performance dates: May 15-28

3. “Parsifal” at the Bayerische Staatsoper

Pierre Audi directs a new production of Wagner’s “Parsifal” at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Jonas Kaufmann returns to the title role after successes at the Met and Australia. He reunites with Nina Stemme and Rene Pape in his signature Gurnemanz. Wolfgang Koch and Christian Gerhaher round out the starry cast which is set to be conducted by Kirill Petrenko.

Performance dates: June 28-July 31

2. “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” at Opera Monte-Carlo

Juan Diego Flórez makes his anticipated role debut as Hoffmann at the Opera Monte-Carlo. After successes in Massenet and Meyerbeer, the tenor continues exploring the French repertoire. This time he showcases his talents alongside Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti, who portrays all four roles. Jacques Lacombe conducts the new production by Jean-Louis Grinda.

Performance dates: January 22-January 31

1. “Lohengrin” at the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House premieres a new production of Wagner’s masterpiece with an all-star cast. Klaus Florian Vogt takes on his signature role with Kristine Opolais in her role debut as Elsa. Christine Goerke is Ortrud while Georg Zeppenfeld sings his signature Heinrich. Andris Nelsons conducts the new production by David Alden.

Performance dates: June 7-July 1