(Photo credit: Kevin Libal)

The Cleveland Orchestra has announced the fourth edition of its annual Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival, running May 15–24, 2026.

The 2026 festival explores the theme of “Courage,” with trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard serving as Festival Curator. Here are the opera and vocal performances on offer.

The festival opens with “The World(s) of Terence Blanchard,” a genre-bending program featuring opera, jazz, and film music. Performers include Will Liverman, the E-Collective, the Turtle Island Quartet, and Blanchard, with projections by Andrew F. Scott.

Performance Date: May 15, 2026.

The Cleveland Orchestra presents Beethoven’s “Fidelio” in three concert performances, led by Franz Welser-Möst. The cast includes Malin Byström as Leonore, David Butt Philip as Florestan, Tomasz Konieczny as Don Pizarro, Dashon Burton as Don Fernando, and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.

Performance Date: May 16 – 24, 2026.

“United in Song! A Community Choral Celebration” will be bring together choirs from across Greater Cleveland.

Performance Date: May 16, 2026

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