Aug 9, 2024

Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko, Marina Rebeka, Juan Diego Flórez, Asmik Grigorian Headline OperaWire’s 10 Operas to See During Fall 2024

With 2024-25 just a month away, OperaWire is breaking down 10 opera productions that are must-sees for all opera lovers from around the world for the fall season.

Aindamar – Metropolitan Opera (Oct. 15 – Nov. 9, 2024)

For the second year in a row (and the first time in its history that this happens), the Metropolitan Opera will present an opera in Spanish. Following last year’s “Florencia en el Amazonas,” Osvaldo Golijov’s tango opera will make its Met premiere. Miguel Harth-Bedoya makes his Met debut conducting a new production by Deborah Colker. OperaWire raved about the production noting it was “effective.”

The all-star cast will include Angel Blue, Gabriella Reyes, Elena Villalón, Daniela Mack, and Alfredo Tejada.

La Battaglia di Legnano – Festival Verdi, Parma (Sept. 29 – Oct. 20, 2024)

The Verdi Festival is set to present one of the composer’s rarely performed works continuing its rediscovery of the icon’s operas. It will feature an all-star cast that includes Riccardo Fassi, Antonio Poli, Marina Rebeka, and Vladimir Stoyanov.

Diego Ceretta conducts the production by festival favorite Valentina Carrasco.

Les Contes d’Hoffmann – Royal Opera House (Nov. 7 – Dec. 1, 2024)

Juan Diego Flórez and Leonardo Caimi lead a new production of Offenbach’s masterpiece. Damiano Michieletto brings his vision to life with an all-star cast that also includes Alex Esposito, Olga Pudova, Ermonela Jaho, and Marina Costa-Jackson. Conductor Antonello Manacorda leads the production.

The production will be shown live in cinemas for those not in London on Jan 15 and 19, 2024.

Don Carlo – Wiener Staatsoper (Sept. 26, 2024 – March 23, 2025)

Verdi’s opera is always exciting for its massive solo cast and ensembles. This year Vienna’s major theater will present a new production by Kirill Serebrennikov and will be conducted by Philippe Jordan.

The cast is also irresistible as it will mark yet another Verdi role for Asmik Grigorian who makes her debut as Elisabetta. She will be joined by Roberto Tagliavini, Joshua Guerrero, Dmitry Ulyanov, Étienne Dupuis, and Eve-Maud Hubeaux.

As second cast will return for the production in the spring featuring Vitalij Kowaljow, Nicole Car, and Elīna Garanča.

Fanny and Alexander – La Monnaie (Dec. 1 – 19, 2024)

This winter, Ingmar Bergman’s semi-autobiographical film “Fanny och Alexander” will come to life on the opera stage, in a creation by composer Mikael Karlsson and librettist Royce Vavrek.

The work will star legendary singers Thomas Hampson and Anne Sofie von Otter alongside Susan Bullock, Peter Tantsits, Sasha Cooke, Sarah Dewez, Lucie Penninck, Alba Weiner, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, and Alexander Sprague.

Director Ivo van Hove brings his vision of the work to life with scenographer Jan Versweyveld. Ariane Matiakh conducts.

La Fille du Regiment – Bayerische Staatsoper (Dec. 22, 2024 – July 1, 2025)

Donizetti’s classic work will finally get a new production at the Munich Theater directed by Damiano Michieletto. The new production will place the question of true identity front and center and will showcase a cast that is led by Pretty Yende and Serena Sáenz. Joining them will be Susan Graham, Sunnyi Melles, Xabier Anduaga, Lawrence Brownlee, and Misha Kiria.

The opening performance will be broadcast live on BR-Klassik radio.

La Forza del Destino – Teatro alla Scala (Dec. 7, 2024 – Jan. 2, 2025)

The Teatro alla Scala’s opening night is perhaps the most important opening night in the world with celebrities dominating the evening’s proceedings and the performance is recorded and shown worldwide. This year, Leo Muscato brings a new production of Verdi’s epic with an all-star cast led by Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko, Ludovic Tézier, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, Marco Filippo Romano, and Alexander Vinogradov. Riccardo Chailly conducts the production.

A second cast will also be present led by Elena Stikhina, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Luciano Ganci, and Simon Lim.

The Handmaid’s Tale – San Francisco Opera (Sept. 14 – Oct 1, 2024)

Poul Ruders’ evocative opera which has become one of the most impactful operas of the late 20th century, will make its West Coast premiere in a new co-production with The Royal Danish Theatre.

Karen Kamensek conducts the new production by John Fulljames, who makes his San Francisco Opera debut. The cast will include Irene Roberts, Lindsay Ammann, Sarah Cambidge, John Relyea, Simone McIntosh, Christopher Oglesby, Rhoslyn Jones, Caroline Corrales, Katrina Galka, Gabrielle Beteag, Sara Couden, Brenton Ryan, and Matthew DiBattista.

Nabucco – Berlin State Opera (Oct. 2 – 26, 2024)

The Berlin State Opera is set to Present a new production of Verdi’s early masterpiece directed by Emma Dante. The new production will feature the stage debut of Anna Netrebko in the role of Abigaille alongside her frequent stage partner Luca Salsi. Ivan Magrì, Marina Prudenskaya, and René Pape will also join them. Following the performances by Netrebko, Anastasia Bartoli will also sing several performances as Abigaille. Bertrand de Billy conducts the all-star cast.

Zoraida di Granata – Donizetti Opera Festival (Nov. 16 – Dec. 1, 2024)

This rarely performed Donizetti opera was chosen for the #donizetti200 project. The festival will perform the second version, that of 1824, and will be presented in a new staging directed by Bruno Ravella, in a co-production with the Wexford Festival.

The cast will include soprano Zuzana Marková (Zoraida), mezzo-soprano Cecilia Molinari (Abenamet), and tenor Konu Kim (Almuzir). Alberto Zanardi conducts.