Operabook

Deutsche Oper Berlin opens its 2026/27 season with a rarely staged Stockhausen work.

Deutsche Oper Berlin opened its new season last night with the first premiere under its new Intendant, Aviel Cahn: Karlheinz Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht. The new production, conceived and directed by Susanne Kennedy and Markus Selg and conducted by Maxime Pascal, is a co-production with the Philharmonie de Paris.

A little bit about this rarely staged piece: Mittwoch aus Licht is the sixth of Stockhausen's seven Licht operas to be composed and the last to be staged. Its four scenes are linked by an idea rather than a plot, and include the Helicopter String Quartet, performed from four helicopters. This is its first staging in the German-speaking world.

If you want to know more about the production team, cast and performance dates, visit Operabook.

Photo: Julian Roeder / Deutsche Oper Berlin

Folkoperan celebrates its 50th anniversary with the world premiere of Jag är Ulla Winblad!

Written by Klas Östergren, composed by Andrea Tarrodi and directed by Nora Nilsson, this opera cabaret tells the story of Ulla Winblad, the 18th century's most legendary and celebrated Stockholm woman, raising questions about power, class, and female identity.

On stage, actors Björn Kjellman and Hanna Dorsin meet Folkoperan's soloists and orchestra.

For the full production team, cast and performance dates, head to Operabook.

Photo: Mats Bäcker

Opera Krakowska brings Bona Sforza back to Bari!

This week we are putting a spotlight on our member Opera Krakowska, whose production of Bona Sforza by Zygmunt Krauze is heading to Italy this September.

Following its world premiere in Kraków, the opera will be presented at Fondazione Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, the hometown of Bona Sforza, the Italian princess who became Queen of Poland and one of the most influential women of the Renaissance.

This co-production carries a special historical and symbolic significance, and we are especially happy to highlight collaborations like this between opera houses across Europe, creating opportunities to share productions, stories and artistic work with new audiences beyond national borders.

Directed by Michał Znaniecki, with Piotr Sułkowski, Director of Opera Krakowska, as Music Director, Bona Sforza brings a fascinating chapter of Polish and Italian history to the stage.

And, as always, head to Operabook to discover more about the production and find the performance dates.

📸 Andrii Kotelnikov

Operabook is in Zagreb for the fourth edition of the Zagreb Opera Festival.

From 11–20 September, Hrvatsko narodno kazalište u Zagrebu Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb welcomes leading opera artists and companies from across Europe for ten days of opera, concerts and special programmes, with more than 30 events across three venues.

The Festival opens with Verdi’s Aida and concludes with a Gala Concert featuring Piotr Beczała and Marigona Qerkezi, conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi.

Alongside the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, other Opera Europa members, such as the Polska Opera Królewska, Opera Balet SNG Maribor and Teatro Massimo Palermo, will also be present.

Operabook joins the Festival, bringing its productions, casts and artists together in one place, making it easy to see who’s performing and discover more about each production.

Discover the full programme: https://www.hnk.hr/en/schedule/zagreb-opera-festival/ or head to Operabook for more information.

The summer stages are saying their final goodbyes, while theatres across Europe are reopening their doors.

But what will be on opera stages in the seasons ahead?

Operabook is preparing the “Future New Productions & Rentals Book”, bringing together what’s coming next across our members’ seasons.

The book will feature:
→ Members’ future productions from Season 2026/27 through 2029/30
→ Productions available for rent, sale or touring

Want your productions to be included?

As our member, log into your account and update:

→ My Future New Productions to share your upcoming production plans
→ My Productions to mark productions available for rent
→ Add images and video links to showcase your productions

Deadline: Monday, 12 October

Need a little help? Register for our Operabook online tutorial on Wednesday, 16 September at 15:00 CET.

The Future New Productions & Rentals Book will be distributed at Opera Europa’s Autumn Conference in Brno (5–7 November).

So, as the new season begins, make the most of our initiative and showcase your productions to the international opera community!

Composer Elżbieta Sikora has been nominated for the 2027 Music Composition Award, awarded every three years by La Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco.

The nomination recognizes her opera Dorian Gray, which had its world premiere in November 2025 at the Teatr Wielki im. Stanisława Moniuszki w Poznaniu. Directed by Sir David Pountney and conducted by maestro Jacek Kaspszyk, the production has been praised by global audiences and critics.

This prestigious nomination is an additional acknowledgment of the artistic significance of the opera and the international reputation of Elżbieta Sikora's work.

Dorian Gray is available to stream for free on OperaVision until 11 October 2026: https://operavision.eu/performance/dorian-gray

Photo: Bartek Barczyk / Poznań Opera House

Dorian Gray: Rafał Żurek
Basil: Michał Partyka
Sibyl: Joanna Freszel
James: Łukasz Konieczny
La Grise: Gosha Kowalinska
Dorian Alter Ego: Mateusz Sierant

Music: Elżbieta Sikora
Text: David Pountney after Oscar Wilde
Director: David Pountney
Conductor: Jacek Kaspszyk

Last chance to watch!

Don’t miss Opera Ballet Vlaanderen’s acclaimed production of Don Giovanni, available on OperaVision until 27 August 2026.

Before summer comes to an end, experience this remarkable production directed by Tom Goossens, with musical direction by Francesco Corti.

Stream it on OperaVision before it’s gone!



Don Giovanni: Michael Arivony
Donna Anna: Marie Lys
Donna Elvira: Arianna Vendittelli
Don Ottavio: Reinoud Van Mechelen
Il Commendatore: Edwin Kaye
Leporello: Michael Mofidian
Masetto: Justin Hopkins
Zerlina: Katharina Ruckgaber

Photo: Annemie Augustijns / Opera Ballet Vlaanderen

Looking back on YAP Forum in Rome 🤩

Tonight Opera Europa celebrates another major milestone for EOP alumnus Alessandro Talevi.

Santa Fe Opera opens its 2026 summer festival with a revival of Talevi's acclaimed production of Eugene Onegin, running from 18 July to 19 August 2026.

The production stars Olga Kulchynska as Tatyana in her Santa Fe Opera role and house debut, alongside Mattia Olivieri as Eugene Onegin and Iván Ayón-Rivas as Vladimir Lensky. Keri-Lynn Wilson also makes her company debut, conducting performances on 18, 22 and 31 July, and 6 August.

We are proud to follow the outstanding achievements of our EOP alumni while continuing to invest in the next generation of opera directors.

Find out more about the production, creative team and cast on Operabook:
https://operabook.org/en/performance/65210

We've put together the ultimate Summer 2026 Opera Festivals guide featuring festivals hosted by Opera Europa's members across Europe.

Austria
• Bregenzer Festspiele (22 Jul–23 Aug)
• Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik (24 Jul–30 Aug)

Denmark
• Copenhagen Opera Festival (13–23 Aug)

Estonia
• Saaremaa Festival (18–25 Jul)

Finland
• Savonlinna Opera Festival (3 Jul–1 Aug)

France
• Festival d'Aix-en-Provence (2–21 Jul)

Germany
• Opernfestspiele Heidenheim (6 Jun–26 Jul)
• Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele – Summer Season (11 Jun–2 Aug)
• Bayerische Staatsoper Opera Festival (18 Jun–31 Jul)
• Rossini in Wildbad (23 Jul–2 Aug)
• Bayreuth Baroque (4–13 Sep)

Italy
• Opera di Roma at Circo Massimo (29 Jun–31 Jul)
• Festival della Valle d'Itria (14 Jul–2 Aug)
• Festival Puccini (17 Jul–5 Sep)
• Rossini Opera Festival (11–23 Aug)

Kosovo
• Rame Lahaj International Opera Festival (4–29 Jul)

Spain
• Festival de Peralada (17 Jul–29 Aug)

United Kingdom
• Opera Holland Park (15 May–8 Aug)
• Glyndebourne Festival (21 May–30 Aug)
• Longborough Festival Opera (30 May–8 Aug)
• Grange Festival (2 Jun–12 Jul)
• Edinburgh International Festival (7–30 Aug)

Looking for more information about these festivals and their programmes? Visit OperaBook to explore events, productions, and plan your cultural travels.