Opera Philadelphia has announced its 2025-26 season.

First up is the 50th anniversary gala “Vox Ex Machina.” It will feature a unique use of technology described as a singer’s aria becoming “a physical painting in real time before the audience’s eyes.”

Performance Date: Sept. 13, 2025

Damiano Michieletto will direct “Il Viaggo a Reims” in its Philadelphia premiere. The opera stars Emilie Kealani, Katherine Beck, Lindsey Reynolds, Brenda Rae, Daniel Belcher, Scott Connor, Minghao Liu, Ben Brady, Alex DeSocio, and Anthony Reed. Eleonora Gravagnola will remount the production while Corrado Rovaris conducts.

Performance Date: Sept. 19-28, 2025

Then comes the Anthony Roth Costanzo and Sarah Ruhl collaboration, “The Seasons,” a co-production with SCENE, AMOC, and Boston Lyric Opera. Zach Winokur directs the showcase.

Performance Date: Dec. 19-21, 2025

The world premiere of “Complications in Sue” features a libretto by Michael R. Jackson and music by by Andy Akiho, Alistair Coleman, Nathalie Joachim, Missy Mazzoli, Nico Muhly, Rene Orth, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Kamala Sankaram, Dan Schlosberg, and Errollyn Wallen.

“I feel like I have been trying to innovate in musical theater for several years now, and with Complications in Sue I am challenging myself by stretching into this new form that I have long
admired as an audience member,” Jackson said in an official press release. “The scope and scale of opera really speaks time, so when Anthony invited me to dip my toe in the waters of the form, I saw it as an exciting opportunity to leave my comfort zone. Examining a woman’s life from birth to death began as a very collaborative storytelling idea that I am now running with, and I look forward to embracing the next stage of collaboration with this group of amazing composers, who will bring a new scale of sound to the drama.”

Performance Date: Feb 4-6, 2026

Also world premiering is Gregory Spears’ “Sleepers Awake,” an opera inspired by the writings of Robert Walser and others. Jenny Koons directs. Corrado Rovaris directs.

Performance Date: April 22-26, 2026

Closing out the season is the Philadelphia premiere of “The Black Clown.” Zach Winokur directs the work, which he co-created with Davóne Tines and Michael Schachter.

Performance Date: May 14 – 17, 2026