The Icelandic Opera has announced its 2019-20 season which will include a celebratory production of Richard Wagner “Die Walküre.” If you have not been to Iceland yet, it may be time to start planning your first trip and experience Norse mythology on site!

Next season will open with Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro,” in a production by English director John Ramster. Moldovan baritone Andrey Zhilikhovsky will sing the Count Almaviva, alternating with Oddur Arnþór Jónsson. The cast will also include Eyrún Unnarsdóttir as the Countess Almaviva, Þóra Einarsdóttir as Susanna and Karin Torbjörnsdóttir as Cherubino. Frímann Bjarnason conducts.

Performance dates: September 7 – October 5, 2019.

As part of the Reykjavík Arts Festival 2020, the Icelandic Opera will celebrate its 40th anniversary by presenting “Die Walküre,” in conjunction with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra’s 70th anniversary and the festival’s 50th anniversary.

To celebrate this occasion, the cast will include several international stars led by Christine Goerke’s Brünnhilde. Christopher Ventris and Claire Rutter will sing Siegmund and Sieglinde, opposite Norwegian bass Frode Olsen as Hunding. The role of Wotan will be taken by Icelandic bass-baritone Ólafur Sigurdarson while American mezzo Jamie Barton will sing the role of Fricka. The cast will be completed by a roster of Icelandic singers in the roles of the other Valkyries.

The performances will be conducted by Alexander Vedernikov, who is Principal Conductor of the Royal Danish Opera and former Music Director of the Bolshoi Theatre. The production will be by director Julia Burbach, along with video designer Tal Rosner.

Performance dates: May 27-29, 2020