2013/14 Opera and Music Season announced
New productions, new work and visiting companies alongside classics at the Royal Opera House.
Details of The Royal Opera’s 2013/14 Season have been announced.
Watch Kasper Holten’s preview of the Season, including his highlights:
The Season sees seven new productions on the Main Stage including new productions of Parsifal, Les Vêpres siciliennes, and Die Frau ohne Schatten to celebrate milestone anniversaries of Wagner, Verdi and Strauss respectively. Other new Main Stage productions include Don Giovanni from Kasper Holten and Manon Lescaut from Jonathan Kent.
Director of Opera Kasper Holten says: ‘There is a wealth of talent here next Season. I’m sure you’ll be able to find many different things that could be for you’.
As well as new work, the 2013/14 Season also features a host of classic productions including Turandot, Le nozze di Figaro, Faust, and Carmen.
The 2013/14 Season sees the programme of the Linbury Studio Theatre integrated into The Royal Opera with new works including How the Whale Became (based on a collection of stories by Ted Hughes) and The Wasp Factory, an adaptations of the novel by Iain Banks. In total five new commissions and two UK premieres will be staged in the Linbury.
‘It’s really exciting for us to be able to programme not just for the Main Stage, but for the Linbury where we can do more innovative work: things that we think will move opera forward,’ says Kasper.
Visiting companies include English Touring Opera, Music Theatre Wales, The Opera Group and Welsh National Opera.
Live cinema relays during the Season include Turandot, Les Vêpres siciliennes, Parsifal, Don Giovanni and Manon Lescaut. We are very grateful to Bank of America Merrill Lynch for supporting the Royal Opera House Cinema Season.
Star names performing at Covent Garden over the coming Season include Bryn Terfel, Anna Netrebko, Angela Gheorghiu, Simon Keenlyside, Elina Garanca and Joseph Calleja.
What are you most excited for over the 2013/14 Season?
Details of the full 2013/14 Season:
Turandot
Giacomo Puccini
Dir: Andrei Serban
Cond: Henrik Nánási (Sept) / Nicola Luisotti (Feb, Mar)
Andrei Serban’s staging of Puccini’s final opera is a glorious pageant of rich colour, dance and drama.
Cast:
- Turandot – Lise Lindstrom (Sept) / Iréne Theorin (Feb; Mar)
- Altoum – Alasdair Elliott
- Timur – Raymond Aceto (Sept) / Matthew Rose (Feb; 4 Mar), Kurt Rydl (7, 10 Mar)
- Calaf – Marco Berti (Sept) / Alfred Kim (Feb; Mar)
- Liù – Eri Nakamura (Sept) / Ailyn Pérez (Feb; Mar)
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
9 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 24 September
14 | 21 (mat) | 28 September
17 | 20 | 25 | 28 February
4 | 7 | 10 March
Le nozze di Figaro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dir: David McVicar
Cond: John Eliot Gardiner
Revolution is in the air in David McVicar’s production of Mozart’s glorious comedy.
Cast:
- Figaro – Luca Pisaroni (Sept; Oct) / Alex Esposito (May)
- Susanna – Lucy Crowe (Sept; Oct) / Camilla Tilling (May)
- Cherubino – Renata Pokupic (Sept; Oct) / Anna Bonitatibus (May)
- Count Almaviva – Christopher Maltman (Sept; Oct) / Gerald Finley (May)
- Countess Almaviva – Rebecca Evans (Sept; Oct) / Sally Matthews (May)
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
16 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 27 September
2 | 4 | 7 October
2 | 5 | 7 | 10 (mat) | 15 May
Elektra
Richard Strauss
Dir: Charles Edwards
Cond: Andris Nelsons
A daughter’s grief turns to bloody revenge in Charles Edwards’s production of Strauss’s most daring opera.
Cast:
- Elektra – Christine Goerke
- Chrysothemis – Adrianne Pieczonka
- Klytämnestra – Michaela Schuster
- Orest – Iain Paterson
- Ägisth – John Daszak
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
23 | 26 September
1 | 6 | 9 | 12 October
The Wasp Factory (Linbury Studio Theatre) NEW
Ben Frost
Dir: Ben Frost / Lib: David Poutney based on The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
Opera with a sting in the tail: Iain Banks’s cult novel is transformed into gripping music theatre byelectro-acoustic composer Ben Frost and librettist David Pountney.
Cast: TBC
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 October
Meet the Young Artists (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Jette Parker Young Artists
The ever-popular autumn showcase for the rising stars of The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists programme.
Programme: TBC
14-19 October
Les Vêpres siciliennes NEW
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: Stefan Herheim
Cond: Antonio Pappano
A great, neglected Verdi opera is brought to the Royal Opera House for the first time in an imaginative new staging by Stefan Herheim.
Cast:
- Helene – Marina Poplavskaya
- Henri – Bryan Hymel
- Procida – Erwin Schrott
- Guy de Montfort – Michael Volle
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
17 | 21 | 24 | 29 October
1 | 4† | 7 | 11 November
†Live cinema relay
Greek / The Killing Flower
Mark-Anthony Turnage / Salvatore Sciarrino
Dir: Michael McCarthy
Cond: Michael Rafferty
Greek is a blazing and brilliant retelling of the Oedipus story by Mark-Anthony Turnage in an award-winning production by Music Theatre Wales.
The Killing Flower sees Music Theatre Wales present Salvatore Sciarrino’s bewitching opera, based on the true story of Renaissance madrigal master and murderer Carlo Gesualdo.
Greek Cast:
- Eddy – Marcus Farnsworth
- Eddy’s Dad/Café Manager/Chief of Police – Gwion Thomas
- Eddy’s Mum/Waitress/Sphinx – Sally Silver
- Eddy’s Sister/Waitress and Eddy’s Wife/Sphinx – Louise Winter
The Killing Flower Cast:
- Duchess – Amanda Forbes
- Visitor – William Towers
- Servant – Michael Bennett
- Duke – George Humphreys
Greek 21 | 22 | 25 | 26 October
The Killing Flower 24 October
Wozzeck
Alban Berg
Dir: Keith Warner
Cond: Mark Elder
Keith Warner probes the psychological depths of Berg’s 20th-century operatic masterpiece.
Cast:
- Wozzeck – Simon Keenlyside
- Marie – Karita Mattila
- Captain – Gerhard Siegel
- Doctor – John Tomlinson
- Drum Major – Endrik Wottrich
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
31 October
5 | 8 | 12 | 15 November
Parsifal NEW
Richard Wagner
Dir: Stephen Langridge
Cond: Antonio Pappano
Wagner’s final, majestic opera returns to Covent Garden in an inventive new staging by director Stephen Langridge and designer Alison Chitty.
Cast:
- Parsifal – Simon O’Neill
- Kundry – Angela Denoke
- Gurnemanz – René Pape
- Amfortas – Gerald Finley
- Klingsor – Willard White
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
30 November
2 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 18† December
†Live cinema relay
How the Whale Became (Linbury Studio Theatre) NEW
Julian Philips
Dir: Natalie Abrahami / Lib: Edward Kemp based on Ted Hughes’s How the Whale Became/Tales of the Early World/The Dreamfighter
Ted Hughes’s magical stories provide inspiration for a new Royal Opera commission by Julian Philips and Edward Kemp.
Cast: TBC
10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 December
2 | 3 | 4 January
Carmen
Georges Bizet
Dir: Francesca Zambello
Cond: Daniel Oren
Spanish heat and gypsy passion are brought to the stage in Francesca Zambello’s vivid production of Bizet’s opera.
Cast:
- Carmen – Elina Garanča (16, 19, 22 mat Dec; 3, 6, 9 Jan) / Christine Rice (21, 23 Dec; 1, 4 Jan)
- Don José – Roberto Alagna (16, 19, 22 mat Dec; 3, 6, 9 Jan) / Younghon Lee (21, 23 Dec; 1, 4 Jan)
- Escamillo – Vito Priante (16, 19, 22 mat Dec; 3, 6, 9 Jan) / Kostas Smoriginas (21, 23 Dec; 1, 4 Jan)
- Micaëla – Veronica Cangemi (16, 19, 22 mat Dec; 3, 6, 9 Jan) / Sarah Fox (21, 23 Dec; 1, 4 Jan)
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
16 | 19 | 21 | 22 (mat) | 23 December
1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 January
Manon
Jules Massenet
Dir: Laurent Pelly
Cond: Emmanuel Villaume
A young girl longing for love is corrupted by wealth and luxury in Massenet’s classic opera, directed by Laurent Pelly.
Cast:
- Manon Lescaut – Ermonela Jaho (14, 17, 21, 24, 28 Jan) / Ailyn Pérez (31 Jan; 4 Feb)
- Lescaut – Audun Iversen
- Chevalier des Grieux – Matthew Polenzani
- Le Comte des Grieux – Alastair Miles
- Guillot de Morfontaine – Christophe Mortagne
- De Brétigny – William Shimell
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
14 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 31 January
4 February
Don Giovanni NEW
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dir: Kasper Holten
Cond: Nicola Luisotti
Director of Opera Kasper Holten presents a new production of Mozart’s sublime tragicomedy.
Cast:
- Don Giovanni – Mariusz Kwiecien
- Leporello – Alex Esposito
- Donna Anna – Malin Byström
- Donna Elvira – Véronique Gens
- Don Ottavio – Antonio Poli
- Zerlina – Elizabeth Watts
- Masetto – Dawid Kimberg
- Commendatore – Alexander Tsymbalyuk
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
1 | 3 | 12† | 14 | 18 | 21 | 24 February
†Live cinema relay
La fille du régiment
Gaetano Donizetti
Dir: Laurent Pelly
Cond: Yves Abel
Donizetti’s entertaining opera marches onto the stage in Laurent Pelly’s production. Irrepressible humour and catchy melodies make for a delightful evening.
Cast:
- Marie – Patrizia Ciofi
- Tonio – Juan Diego Flórez (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 Mar), Frédéric Antoun (18 Mar)
- Suplice Pingot – Pietro Spagnoli
- La Marquise de Berkenfield – Ewa Podles
- La Duchess de Crackentorp – Kiri Te Kanawa
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
3 | 6 | 9 (mat) | 12 | 15 | 18 March
King Priam and Paul Bunyan (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Michael Tippett and Benjamin Britten
Dir: James Conway and Liam Steel
Cond: Michael Rosewell and Philip Sunderland
Michael Tippett’s magnificent King Priam is brought to the Linbury Studio Theatre in one of English Touring Opera’s most ambitious productions to date.
English Touring Opera presents Benjamin Britten’s brilliantly inventive Paul Bunyan, which draws on an American folktale about a lumberjack giant.
Cast: TBC
February
Jonas Kaufmann Main Stage recital
One of the world’s leading tenors takes to the main stage for a fabulous spring recital.
6 April
Die Frau ohne Schatten NEW
Richard Strauss
Dir: Claus Guth
Cond: Semyon Bychkov
Director Claus Guth reveals the darker elements of Strauss’s exotic fairytale in a striking new production.
Cast:
- The Emperor – Johan Botha
- The Empress – Emily Magee
- The Nurse – Michaela Schuster
- Barak – Johan Reuter
- Barak’s Wife – Elena Pankratova
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
14 | 17 | 20 | 23 (mat) | 26 | 29 March
2 April
New Brooke and New Coll (Linbury Studio Theatre) NEW
Elspeth Brooke and Francisco Coll
Lib: Jack Underwood and Meredith Oakes
An unmissable double bill in the Linbury Studio Theatre, showcasing new work by two of opera’s brightest talents.
Cast: TBC
March
New Bedford (Faust Festival, Linbury Studio Theatre) NEW
Luke Bedford
Lib: David Harrower
The Royal Opera commissions rising star Luke Bedford to create a companion piece to Gounod’sFaust.
Cast: TBC
April
F4u5t (Faust Festival, Linbury Studio Theatre) NEW
Matthew Herbert
Acclaimed electronic composer Matthew Herbert presents a contrasting take on Gounod’s Faust, commissioned by The Royal Opera.
Cast: TBC
April
Faust
Charles-François Gounod
Dir: David McVicar
Cond: Maurizio Benini
David McVicar’s spectacular production of Gounod’s grand opera is set in decadent 1870s Paris.
Cast:
- Faust – Jospeh Calleja
- Marguerite – Anna Netrebko
- Méphistophélès – Bryn Terfel
- Valentin – Simon Keenlyside
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
4 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 25 April
La traviata
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: Richard Eyre
Cond: Dan Ettinger
(Note: Paul Wynne Griffiths will be conducting the performance on 20 May in place of Dan Ettinger.)
Verdi’s tragic tale of a Parisian courtesan who sacrifices all for love is vividly presented in Richard Eyre’s production.
Cast:
- Violetta Valéry – Diana Damrau (19, 21, 24, 26, 30 April; 3, 9 May) / Ailyn Pérez (6, 12, 17, 20 May)
- Alfredo Germont – Francesco Demuro (19, 21, 24, 26, 30 April; 3, 9 May) / Stephen Costello (6, 12, 17, 20 May)
- Giorgio Germont – Dimitri Hvorostovsky (19, 21, 24, 26, 30 April; 3 May) / Simon Keenlyside (6, 9, 12, 17, 20 May)
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
19 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 30 April
3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 20 May
Tosca
Giacomo Puccini
Dir: Jonathan Kent
Cond: Teodor Currentzis (10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 27, 30 May; 3 June) / Plácido Domingo (16, 19, 21, 26 June)
Drama, passion and fabulous music – Tosca is one of the great evenings of opera. Jonathan Kent’s production is set against the turbulent backdrop of Rome in 1800.
Cast:
- Floria Tosca – Oksana Dyka (10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 27,30 May; 3 June) / Sondra Radvanovsky (16, 19, 21, 26 June)
- Mario Cavaradossi – Roberto Alagna (10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 27,30 May; 3 June) / Riccardo Massi (16, 19, 21, 26 June)
- Baron Scarpia – Thomas Hampson (10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 27,30 May; 3 June) / Sebastian Catana (16, 19, 21, 26 June)
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 27 | 30 May
3 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 26 June
Dialogues des Carmélites NEW to The Royal Opera
Francis Poulenc
Dir: Robert Carsen
Cond: Simon Rattle
Poulenc’s sublime and unflinching opera follows an order of Carmelite nuns caught up in the terror of the French Revolution. Robert Carsen’s award-winning production is new to The Royal Opera.
Cast:
- Blanche – Magdalena Kožená
- Constance – Anna Prohaska
- Madame Lidoine – Emma Bell
- Mère Marie – Sophie Koch
- Madame de Croissy – Deborah Polaski
- Marquis de la Force – Thomas Allen
- Chevalier de la Force – Yann Beuron
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
29 May
2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 June
Manon Lescaut NEW
Giacomo Puccini
Dir: Jonathan Kent
Cond: Antonio Pappano
Puccini’s first triumph returns to Covent Garden for the first time in 20 years in a new staging by Jonathan Kent.
Cast:
- Manon Lescaut – Kristine Opolais
- Lescaut – Christopher Maltman
- Chevalier des Grieux – Jonas Kaufmann
- Geronte de Ravoir – Maurizio Muraro
- Edmondo – Benjamin Hulett
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
17 | 20 | 24† | 28 June
1 | 4 | 7 July
†Live cinema relay
Quartett (Linbury Studio Theatre) NEW
Luca Francesconi
John Fulljames, Associate Director of Opera, presents a new production of this vibrant and unsettling opera by acclaimed Italian composer Luca Francesconi.
June
Ariadne auf Naxos
Richard Strauss
Dir: Christof Loy
Cond: Antonio Pappano
Grand passions and comedy collide with wonderful effect in Christof Loy’s production of Strauss’s dazzling opera.
Cast:
- Ariadne/The Prima Donna – Karita Mattila
- Bacchus/The Tenor – Roberto Saccà
- Zerbinetta – Jane Archibald
- The Composer – Ruxandra Donose
- Harlequin – Markus Werba
- A Music Master – Thomas Allen
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
25 | 30 June
3 | 10 | 13 July
Maria Stuarda NEW
Gaetano Donizetti
Dir: Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier
Cond: Bertrand de Billy
Two queens become bitter rivals in Donizetti’s tragic opera, directed by Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser.
Cast:
- Maria – Joyce DiDonato
- Elisabetta – Carmen Giannattasio
- Roberto – Charles Castronovo
- Lord Cecil – Jeremy Carpenter
- Giorgio – Matthew Rose
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 18 July
La bohème
Giacomo Puccini
Dir: John Copley
Cond: Cornelius Meister
A lost key and an accidental touch of cold hands in the dark – so begins one of the great romances of all opera. John Copley’s production brings 19th-century Paris to the stage in vivid detail.
Cast:
- Mimì – Ermonela Jaho (9, 13 mat, 17, 19 mat July) / Angela Gheorghiu (12, 15, 19 eve July)
- Rodolfo – Giuseppe Filianoti (9, 13 mat, 17, 19 mat July) / Vittorio Grigolo (12, 15, 19 eve July)
- Marcello – Markus Werba (9, 13 mat, 19 mat July) / Massimo Cavalletti (12, 15, 17, 19 eve July)
- Musetta – Simona Mihai (9, 13 mat, 19 mat July) / Irina Lungu (12, 15, 17, 19 eve July)
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
9 | 12 | 13 (mat) | 15 | 17 | 19 (mat) | 19 July (eve)
Gloria – a pigtale (The Opera Group, Linbury Studio Theatre)
H.K. Gruber
Cast TBC
Frederic Wake-Walker’s production of this darkly comic opera draws on H.K. Gruber’s zany cabaret style and satirical humour.
July
Jette Parker Young Artists Summer Performance
Programme TBC
See the opera stars of tomorrow on the main stage at Covent Garden – a specially selected programme that showcases the talents of the Young Artists.
20 July (mat)
Moses und Aron (Welsh National Opera)
Arnold Schoenberg
Dir: Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito
Cond: Lotha Koenigs
A thrilling new production of Schoenberg’s rarely performed masterpiece by Welsh National Opera.
Cast:
- Moses – Richard Angas
- Aron – Rainer Trost
- A Young Maiden/First Naked Virgin – Elizabeth Atherton
- A Young Man – Alexander Sprague
- Another Man/Ephraimite – Daniel Grice
- A Priest – David Soar
25 | 26 July
This article has 58 comments
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- Tosca back again | Recitative: [...] remembered that Opolais will be back at the ROH next year in more Puccini: Manon Lescaut opposite Jonas Kaufmann. Excellent stuff… Oo, this is worth [...]
No Saturday for Ariadne auf Naxos. All productions should have a weekend performance as a matter of policy. The London houses survive on the subsidies of everyone, not just Londoners.
It is great to see more use being made of the Linbury Theatre which seemed underused in the past. However it is frustrating to find that as a standard friend there are often no seats available when our "priority" booking starts and one has to join in the general booking. Is there any chance that some of the overall friends allocation could be held back for the lower level?
Great to see Turandot is coming back to the ROH
Fantastic season- so much to look forward to. Les Dialogues des Carmelites will be a must for me
Interesting new season but when will the ROH bring Norma again?
This would be amazing...I think liudmyla monastyrska would be the perfect Norma.
I'm looking forward to most of this programme, the Strauss works especially. But could I make a plea in future seasons for more Slavic opera? We've had only Eugene Onegin this time round and nothing at all in 2013/14. Also would be nice to see more baroque opera - the medium did not start with Mozart.
A rather uninspiring programme with, on the whole, uninteresting singers. I saw Johan Botha sing the Emperor almost 20 years ago in the Hockney production. He is still too large (and too old now) to be convincing. Gheorghiu simpering away again in Boheme? No thanks. Parsifal has an "inventive" new staging - what, no sets? Sounds grim. Don't think I'll be renewing my Friends membership.
I'm amazed that you can call this uninspiring. There are several rarely performed works in the programme and we should all be grateful to the ROH for that. I'm looking forward to it!
Interesting programme but I would've liked to see Angela Gheorghiu in Manon paired with Jonas Kaufmann rather than Opolais. Gheorghiu's musicality, great stage presence and voice would have conquered everybody's hearts.
She is excellent when she shows up wich is quite rare....I am surprise that the ROH is still inviting her to sing. But i will be going to see Bohème but mostly to hear Grigolo again who brought the house down as Rodolfo last week.
At last !!
Congratulations to Antonio Pappano for addressing the issue of endless withdrawals by high profile singers.
I notice Sir Thomas Allen is doing two back-to-back productions - wonder if there's any truth to the rumour he will retire after this?
Maria Stuarda - Joyce DiDonato & Charles Castronovo. Pity Saimir Pirgu is not singing.
Just to clarify, I did not mean instead of Charles. Charles is amazing. It would have been nice to have had Saimir sing one of the other opera's.
Really interesting season, looking forward to most of it in both The Linbury & Main House. But...but..but...I do agree with Alexander Jacoby that it 'would be nice to see more baroque opera' (some Rameau perhaps?) and 'for more Slavic opera' - possibly some 'off the beaten track' operas?
Why so little Verdi. isn't it the centenary of his birth?
I agree with Tigger. I have been waiting for too long to see Norma.
I agree too. How long ago is it? The same goes for I Puritani
Interesting to find that Sir Pappano will conduct Ariadone which was his first opera as the music director in 2002. Will it be his last as the music director of the Royal Opera?
Where is Elisabete Matos? She's a great dramatic soprano. She could be singing Manon Lescaut, Turandot or Tosca.
Wow! Ciofi&Florez& Podles& Kiri Te Kanawa
Bravo for cast !!!
Yes, it's absolutely fabulous!
Yet again, a season without Renee Fleming - and only two staged performances this season. What a tragedy.
There are lots of singers, not just Renee who haven't appeared at the ROH for a long time, for example Cecilia Bartoli who was wonderful in Il Turco in Italia all those years ago.
Thanks for listening to last years comments and adding the casting to the announcement!
Je suis écoeurée que vous ne citiez pas dans les étoiles de la scène, Roberto Alagna qui chante dans deux de vos productions cette année. C'est indigne du ROH
Roberto Alagna's career is increasingly shifting towards Continental Europe, especially France, where in the future he will be premiering many exciting roles in the French repertoire. At the ROH (and the Met), he seems to sing only the predictable strings of Carmens and Toscas, thus giving himself time to concentrate on the other, new and "juicier" stuff. And it's OK like this!
Things are finally moving in the right direction in France. There is a new impetus to revive and provide quality interpretations to neglected French operas from all time periods. Alongside Alagna and other established top-notch singers like Tézier, Degout, Deshayes, Koch, Gens, Piau, there are now some very gifted young francophone singers, such Yoncheva, Devielhe, Fuchs, Sempey, etc. who, together with other musicians and directors, can ensure the success of such projects.
The ROH is following a different path, it seems. There are 6 (!) French language operas planned for next season; half of them (Vêpres, Manon, Carmélites) have baffling casts, ranging from generic and/or miscast to plain inadequate. Previous ambitious projects haven't fared much better: the so-so Troyens was followed by a disappointing Robert le Diable. Why schedule so much French language opera and then miscast it, so that it sounds generic or plain bad ? Why use so little of the francophone talent available across the Channel?
Why assume that the ROH audience can't tell the difference between French and Esperanto? Well, at least I hope they can...
In conclusion, for French language opera I will definitely go to Paris, rather than to the ROH (or the Met) and I am thrilled that Roberto Alagna will participate in many productions in France and elsewhere in Europe. And if people are excited about what the ROH has to offer in the French repertoire, then more power to them!
I agree to Chris, Gheorghiu is great as Mimi, but can't we have her in something else? Manon should be her. or is she ready for Butterfly ?. Let Mimi sing by Anita, and she sings something more mature? She wouldn't like Grigolo gets all the attention!
I agree it's time Gheorghiu offered a new role in London - this must be the fifth time she's done Mimi, not to mention Faust, Violetta, Rondine and Tosca coming around again and again. I think audiences are starting to lose interest. I enjoyed her Adriana very much and hoped it would be the start of a new stagein her career, but instead she's just doing the same roles again. She's in her late 40s- it's time to grow up. Her voice is still great but her career hasn't developed at all in the last ten years. She could have done Manon, Louise, Mireille and other beautiful French roles but I suppose she finds music difficult to learn. No bel canto either apart from Adina, no Mozart, no German or Slavic repertoire.
CELSO ALBELO STILL UNKNOWN TO ROYAL OPERA HOUSE. . A PITY
Celso Albelo sang in la Sonnambula last year. He was quite unpolished so I wouldn't expect to hear him again for a few years.
He sang in La Sonnambula a few seasons ago. I wasn't that impressed personally.
It looks like a really fantastic season. Wonderful rarities and superb casts in the popular stuff. A world-beating programme - thanks ROH! No wonder I can't bear to leave London!
But going back to my earlier comment regarding the lack of Verdi...just 2 operas compared to 4 from Puccini. Given the rspective ouputs of the 2 composers it seems a bizarre decision.
Good to see Vespri Siciliani at last though
After his dire 'Eugene Onegin' the prospect of another Kasper Holten production fills me with trepidation. Should he be giving himself another chance? And does 'Don Giovanni' really need a (presumably lavish) replacement yet?
To your second question, the answer is YES in capital letters. But why do you presume it will be lavish?
I prefer to keep an open mind on future productions and save my closed mind for the proven turkeys, of which Zambello's unlamented staging of Don G was undoubtedly an example.
On the whole a fantastic season to look forward to with several must not miss productions and/or singers to look foward to.
I feel more positive about this than I have done for the previous two or three seasons. Not everything is to my taste, but no reason why it should be. There are several new productions of rarely performed works that I regard as must-see, and the casting of some revivals tempts me to revisit productions I thought I had seen enough of already.
However I do agree with the earlier commenters who would like to see more slavic opera.
Les Vêpres siciliennes at last. Brilliant. Bit in this bi-centenary year more rare Verdi would have been welcome, even if only in concert performances. Ted Downes' 2001 ambition still has to be realised.
On the whole this looks a great season but why is England's international opera house not presenting any operas by Benjamin Britten in his centenary year?
Britten centenary is this year and wwe have Gloriana...
No season can be to the taste of everybody.But I must say that this is a slight improovement to the last 2 seasons. However why 4 operas by Puccini.
Turandot and Manon Lescault are most welcome but we have just been thru a long series of Tosca and Bohème this year. It feels like reheated leftovers with so-so cast just to filled the opera house. Also this is the third time we see Nozze in the last 3 years and did the ROH really need a new production of Don Giovanni when we haven't seen a decent Lucia or a I Puritani in years. Love the opera Manon but you actually need a great soprano to sing the role which is not the case next season. At least we will get the fabulous Maria Stuarda of DiDonato and a dream cast for Faust and la Fille du Régiment.
On the whole I agree with the positive comments but also regret the lack of Slavic opera, of baroque music and - bizarrely - of Britten. I tend to agree that another production of 'Don Giovanni' is unnecessary, but Veronique Gens is superb and this could be a good London showcase for her. Delighted to see Poulenc's masterpiece in the list.
yes...a very enticing season in prospect.But how long do we have to wait for a Monteverdi cycle? And while the "big 4" Mozart operas are wonderful,there are others too. Idomeneo,for example.
Manon overload? All seems a bit thin and uninspired - a star studded Faust but nothing could make it worth sitting through dire piece that again.. Traviata (again) Boheme (again) Tosca (again) Don Giovanni (again) Nozze (again) and la fille du regiment (again) so more than half the season is trotting out the tired old money spinners.. Is this aimed at people who never been to the opera in the last two years?
A lot of positives but seriously hope that we will get some barok and some more less used Bel Canto in the future seasons ........ too much same old - give me a break from La Fille already!
Although loving to have Turandot back, I am VERY disappointed that no effort has been made to use the amazing and composer true, Mercurio ending.
I'm pretty excited about this season.Lots of new operas for me to try,especially those by Strauss and Parsifal as well.Looking forward to finally getting the chance to see Anna Netrebko perform and also the return of Turandot,one of my favourite operas.
Joy to see lots of my personal favourites planned in the new season. Still a lot of repeats. Even though I love them, I cannot justify yet another Tosca or La Boheme. Very excited about seeing Anna Netrebko and to have Parsifal and Maria Stuarda at ROH at last.
An exciting season but I wholeheartedly agree with the disappointment at no Renee Fleming and never any Cecilia Bartoli. Is this her choice? Let's hope that all the "stars" show up. Well done Pappano for the warning shot across their bows
I agree with most of the opinions expressed previously.I am delighted to see "Vespri" and the "Frau ohne schatten" in the list, although I am dreading the prospect of enduring some more nonsensical productions . As far as singers are concerned we can keep praying for their good health and that they will appear as promised without tantrums. Morgan Dye is hoping for a chance to see Netrebko, So do I! I had tickets for 3 of her previous appearances, none of which she did! (2 Traviatas and a Donna Anna)
Let us hope that in these days of austerity we can still have a few good nights to look forward to at the ROH!
The best season in the world
As usual, no Baroque opera at all. Just the same boring, stuffy going over the main chance yet again - Tosca, La Boheme. A work by Vivaldi or Hasse would breathe new life into repertoire. Also, an early Mozart opera - Ascanio in Alba, Ideomeneo, La Clemenza di Tito - would be so refreshing. And has ROH never heard of the COUNTERTENOR? These wonderful voices - Philippe Jaroussky, Max Emanuel Cencic, Franco Fagioli - are wowing audiences all over Europe, America, Australia while the UK misses out!
There are some good works here - I'm looking forward to Parsifal and to Carmelites. However, there's not much variety... We've got the Italian school with 4 Puccini operas in one year (including yet another repeat of La Boheme) alongside 2 Verdi and 2 Donizetti works. Then, sticking to the 19th century, 3 French operas by Gounod, Bizet and Massenet - so more than half the productions this season are by Italian / French composers within about 50 years. Of the remainder: 2 Mozart and 3 Richard Strauss (wow - but I can complain, I do love Strauss and great that it's neither Salome or Rosenkavalier). Then one each for Wagner, Poulenc and Berg, plus one contemporary evening. So, the only works earlier than the 19th century are the two Mozarts; very little mainstream 20th century, nothing from Eastern Europe / Russia. And would be good to see something very good and contemporary: Adams, Glass perhaps?
To be realistic, with public funding in short supply, I am not surprised to see so many of the "moneyspinners" back on stage, the ROH has to try to pay its way on limited funding so the last thing you want to do is offer that tabloid press more fodder to have another go with their perpetual 'money v elitism' theme. Considering the financial constraints, I find the ROH has managed to come up with a very interesting season and a decent balance between repeats and some varied new stuff...might even make it to Linbury more often - despite the seats. I've been waiting for a Stuarda for years, so pleased to see that (was beginning to believe it was regarded as politically incorrect to stage it at the ROH but anyway it looks like they've come up with precisely the right year to stage it..) I can agree with some other comments about more Slavic repertoire and also keen to see a decent staging of Norma (Cedolins/Ganassi - Carsen) + Monteverdi "Il ritorno..." with Kasarova - so seldom seen in London
I live in San Francisco and shall be visiting
London September 23, 24 and 26, 2013. Could
you kindly advise me if there are going to be
any opera performances for these dates.
Thank you. Carol Rabin
Hi Carol,
Listings are provided via http://www.roh.org.uk/events
Thanks,
Chris
Digital Content Producer
It is high time the Royal Opera booked Stefan Herheim so I am delighted to see his name here. He has produced such imaginative work at Bayreuth (Parsifal), in Berlin (Lohengrin) and in Oslo (Tannhauser).