In the first week of October, Bavarian Resonance – Shanghai Grand Theatre 2025 Opera Festival will bring Shanghai audiences an artistic feast, offering the chance to experience the unique power of German opera up close. From 1–6 October 2025, Bayerische Staatsoper will bring a cast of more than 300 performers to Shanghai for three major events: a staged production of {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced the extension of Vladimir Jurowski’s contract as General Music Director. The company said that Jurowski’s contract will now end at the end of the 2028-29 season. Jurowski has been the music director of the Bayerische Staatsoper since 2021 and has conducted in London, New York, Milan, and Paris. In 2024, he became King Charles III appointed {…}
(Photo: © Monika Rittershaus) “Don Giovanni” is an opera of seductions and escapes, moral wreckage and divine retribution, a shimmering mosaic of comedy, tragedy, farce, and existential dread. Yet “the mother of all operas” is also a uniquely treacherous work—at once alluring and intractable, irresistibly open yet elusive. Music’s sublimity rarely fails to connect with audiences, even in a less-than-stellar {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “Cavalleria Rusticana” on July 9 and 12, 2025. The company said that Anna Pirozzi will sing the role of Santuzza, replacing the originally scheduled Ksenia Dudnikova. Pirozzi made her debut in Munich in 2016, singing Amelia in “Un ballo in maschera,” and has also performed the title role {…}
(Photo: © Geoffroy Schied) In Francesco Micheli’s new staging of Mascagni and Leoncavallo’s iconic opera, Munich transformed for a night into Palermo. With a unified production for both “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci” telling the story of a migrant’s journey from Sicily, the director turned a traditional duo into a memorable night, though his decision to set it in the 1960s {…}
(Credit: Geoffroy Schied) “Manon Lescaut” at the Bayerisches Staatsoper in April showed two soloists who brought a fresh take on Puccini’s well-loved third opera. Although Hans Neuenfels’ production kept its piquant perspective, soprano Joyce El Khouri, performing instead of Ermonela Jaho, and tenor Saimir Pirgu performed with more modesty and ardor than anticipated. They showed us once again how Puccini {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its 2025-26 season revival of “La Bohème.” The company said that Juliana Grigoryan will take over the role of Musetta, replacing the originally announced Aida Garifullina. Grigoryan is the winner of the International Stanislaw Moniuszko Vocal Competition Grand Prize and the Operalia Competition and has performed with numerous major companies, including {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a conductor change for “Don Carlo.” According to Slippedisc, the company said, “It is with great regret that the Bavarian State Opera announces that Zubin Mehta will not be able to conduct Don Carlo in May 2025 due to a necessary break. Zubin Mehta himself deeply regrets the cancellation but is already looking forward to {…}
(Credit: Heather Elizabeth Media) The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “Manon Lescaut.” The company said that Joyce El-Khoury will be stepping into the role of Manon Lescaut on April 17, 20, and 24 for Ermonela Jaho. This season El-Khoury performed at the Opera Comique and Opera de Rouen in “Médée” and “Aida.” She has appeared {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has lost another cast member for its production of “Der Fliegende Holländer.” The company announced that Patrick Lange will take over at the podium replacing the originally scheduled Mikko Franck. This is the third cast change for the production following the withdrawal of Gerald Finley and Asmik Grigorian. Lange has been the Music Director of the Hessisches {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres Maurizio Benini conducts Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in a new production by Barbara Wysocka. Bekhzod Davronov, Igor Golovatenko, Ludovic Tézier, Serena Sáenz, Nadine Sierra, Riccardo Fassi, and Elmina Hasan star. Performance Dates: March 7-24, 2026 & July 28 & 31, 2026 Lotte de Beer directs a new production of Gounod’s “Faust” with Jonathan {…}