Berlin State Opera to Cut 2025-26 Production; Will Continue Hiring Stars Like Anna Netrebko

By Francisco Salazar

The Berlin State Opera has announced that it will cut a production from the 2025-26 season.

In an interview, General Director Elisabeth Sobotka said there will be around 5 million euros for budget cuts.

She said ” We will cancel a premiere, but that only affects the 25-26 season. We can’t cut anything in the current season, that would cause the same costs without any possibility of saving. At the moment we go into every conversation with the idea that we can, figuratively speaking, shake so that something falls out.”

However, the General Director said it will continue to bring stars like Anna Netrebko. Sobotka noted, “Absolutely, that is the mission and claim of our company. We come from a great tradition, the house with more than 280 years, the orchestra with over 450 years, which has achieved a very special position. Most recently with Daniel Barenboim, Christian Thielemann now takes us into the future. We need the very best artists and the very best representation, that’s what I mean by excellence.”

She also noted that stars like Netrebko no longer make as much money as they used to in opera. Sobotka said, “She sticks to our maximum fee, but on the other hand she brings us very good income, which is more than balanced. She feels very connected to our house. Superstars like her don’t make big money at the opera anyway, but in their concerts. I am very happy that she is coming to us, she was outstanding in our ‘Nabucco.'”

Sobotka added that she does not plan on cutting the number of performances.

Over the past months, the government announced that it was planning €130 million in cuts. That would mean that 450 institutes that are reliant at least in part on state subsidies would be affected.

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