15 April 2015 at 9.53am | 161 Comments
Autumn Season
Deloitte Ignite 2015
Curated by ROH Learning and Participation
5–27 September 2015
Macbeth NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Luke Styles
Dir: Ted Huffman
Cond: Jeremy Bines
Luke Styles, former Young Composer in Residence for Glyndebourne, presents a new one-act chamber opera based on Shakespeare’s violent tragedy.
9 September at 7.45pm
Orpheus (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Music Dir: Dominic Conway
Dir: Alexander Scott
Award-winning theatre company Little Bulb Theatre perform their acclaimed take on the Orpheus myth, bringing together opera, Hot Club jazz and French chanson in a highly original production.
15 | 16 | 17 | 18 September at 7.45pm
19 September at 6pm
Orphée et Eurydice NEW
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Dir: Hofesh Shechter / John Fulljames
Cond: John Eliot Gardiner
Hofesh Shechter and John Fulljames co-direct a new production of Gluck’s opera.
Cast:
- Orphée – Juan Diego Flórez (except 28 Sept) / Michele Angelini (28 Sept)
- Eurydice – Lucy Crowe
- Amour – Amanda Forsythe
- Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
14 | 17 | 23 | 28 | 30 September at 7.30pm
20 September at 3pm; 26 September at 12.30pm
3 October at 7.30pm
Le nozze di Figaro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dir: David McVicar
Cond: Ivor Bolton (except 9, 14 Oct) / Christopher Willis (9,14 Oct)
Revolution is in the air in David McVicar’s production of Mozart’s glorious comic opera.
Cast:
- Figaro – Erwin Schrott
- Susanna – Anita Hartig (except 7, 14 Oct) / Sophie Bevan (7, 14 Oct)
- Count Almaviva – Stéphane Degout
- Countess Almaviva – Ellie Dehn
- Cherubino – Kate Lindsey
- Bartolo – Carlo Lepore
- Don Basilio – Krystian Adam
- Marcellina – Ann Murray (Sept) / Louise Winter (Oct)
- Don Curzio – Alasdair Elliot
- Antonio – Jeremy White
- Barbarina – Heather Engebretson (Sept) / Robyn Allegra Parton (Oct)
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
15 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 29 September at 7pm
2 | 5* | 7 | 14 October at 7pm
9 October at 12 noon
*Live cinema relay
The Last Hotel NEW (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Donnacha Dennehy
Lib/Dir: Enda Walsh
Cond: André de Ridder
Composer Donnacha Dennehy and playwright Enda Walsh’s new opera is an intense psychological thriller, presented by Landmark Productions and Wide Open Opera.
9 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 16 October at 7.45pm
17 October at 6pm
Ariadne auf Naxos
Richard Strauss
Dir: Christof Loy
Cond: Lothar Koenigs
Grand passions and comedy collide to wonderful effect in Christof Loy’s production of Strauss’s inventive opera.
Cast:
- The Prima Donna/Ariadne – Karita Mattila
- The Tenor/Bacchus – Robert Dean Smith
- Zerbinetta – Jane Archibald
- The Composer – Ruxandra Donose
- Harlequin – Nikolay Borchev
- Music Master – Thomas Allen
- Dancing Master – Norbert Ernst
- Scaramuccio – Wynne Evans
- Brighella – Paul Schweinester
- Truffaldino – Jeremy White
- Naiad – Sofia Fomina
- Dryad – Karen Cargill
- Echo – Kiandra Howarth
- Wig Maker – Samuel Dale Johnson §
- Lackey – James Platt §
- Major Domo – Christoph Quest
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
10 | 13 | 16 October at 7.30pm
Carmen
Georges Bizet
Dir: Francesca Zambello
Cond: Bertrand de Billy (19, 21, 24, 27, 30 Oct; 4, 7, 10 Nov) / Alexander Joel (14, 16, 21, 26, 30 Nov)
Francesca Zambello’s production of Bizet’s much-loved opera sets the stage alight with Spanish heat and gypsy passion.
Cast:
- Carmen – Elena Maximova (19, 21, 24, 27, 30 Oct; 4 Nov) / Anita Rachvelishvili (7, 10, 14, 16, 21, 26, 30 Nov)
- Don José – Bryan Hymel (19, 21, 24, 27, 30 Oct; 4, 7, 10 Nov) / Jonas Kaufmann (14, 16 Nov) / Yonghoon Lee (21, 26, 30 Nov)
- Escamillo – Alexander Vinogradov (19, 21, 24, 27, 30 Oct; 4, 7, 10 Nov) / Gábor Bretz (14, 16, 21, 26, 30 Nov)
- Micaëla – Nicole Car (19, 21, 24, 27, 30 Oct; 4 Nov) / Sonya Yoncheva (7, 10, 14, 16 Nov) / Celine Byrne (21, 26, 30 Nov)
- Frasquita – Vlada Borovko §
- Mercédès – Michèle Losier (19, 21, 24, 27, 30 Oct; 4, 7, 10 Nov) / Rachel Kelly (14, 16, 21, 26, 30 Nov)
- Le Dancaïre – Grant Doyle (19, 21, 24, 27, 30 Oct; 4, 7, 10 Nov) / Adrian Clarke (14, 16, 21, 26, 30 Nov)
- Remendado – Timothy Robinson (19, 21, 24, 27, 30 Oct; 4, 7, 10 Nov) / Harry Nicoll (14, 16, 21, 26, 30 Nov)
- Zuniga – Nicolas Courjal
- Moralès – Samuel Dale Johnson §
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
19 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 October at 7pm
4 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 26 | 30 November at 7pm
21 November at 12 noon
Orpheus (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse)
Luigi Rossi
Dir: Keith Warner
Cond: Christian Curnyn
Orchestra of Early Opera Company
Keith Warner directs a new production of Luigi Rossi’s 17th-century opera, in the unique candlelit space of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
23 | 24 | 27 October at 7.30pm
28 | 30 October at 2.30pm
1 | 15 November at 7pm
4 | 6 | 9 | 12 November at 7.30pm
8 November at 2pm
Meet the Young Artists Week (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Meet the Young Artists Week gives audiences a chance to meet the new intake and hear them perform with those continuing for their second season. The week includes:
Meet the stars of tomorrow in these free recitals in the Linbury Studio Theatre, part of Meet the Young Artists week.
19 | 22 October at 1pm
Choose the evening’s programme from the options given at the lunchtime session in these popular recitals, part of Meet the Young Artists week.
25 October at 1pm and 7pm
The Lighthouse
Peter Maxwell Davies
Dir: Greg Eldridge
Cond: Jonathan Santagada
The Jette Parker Young Artists present a fully staged performance in the Linbury Studio Theatre, in one of the most popular highlights of Meet the Young Artists Week.
- Sandy – Samuel Sakker
- Blazes – Yuriy Yurchuk
- Arthur – David Shipley
- Keyboard – Colin J Scott
- Southbank Sinfonia
22 | 23 October at 7pm
24 October at 1pm
Morgen und Abend NEW | World Premiere
Georg Friedrich Haas
Lib: Jon Fosse
Dir: Graham Vick
Cond: Michael Boder
Georg Friedrich Haas’s new commission for The Royal Opera, Morning and Evening, is based on a novel by Jon Fosse and directed by Graham Vick.
Cast:
- Olai – Klaus Maria Brandauer
- Johannes – Christoph Pohl
- Signe/Midwife – Sarah Wegener
- Peter – Will Hartmann
- Erna – Helena Rasker
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
13 | 17 | 21 | 25 November at 7.30pm
28 November at 7pm
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Linbury Studio Theatre)
Will Todd
Lib: Maggie Gottlieb
Dir: Martin Duncan
Cond: Matthew Waldren
Will Todd’s charming opera for children comes to the Royal Opera House for the first time, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the book’s publication.
5 | 6 November at 6pm
7 November at 2pm and 6pm
Lulu: A Murder Ballad
The Tiger Lillies and Laura Caldow
Dir: Mark Holthusen
Cult cabaret trio the Tiger Lillies perform their brilliantly twisted song cycle inspired by Frank Wedekind’s fascinating heroine.
23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 November at 7.45pm
28 November at 6pm
Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci NEW
Pietro Mascagni / Ruggero Leoncavallo
Dir: Damiano Michieletto
Cond: Antonio Pappano
Damiano Michieletto directs new productions of Mascagni and Leoncavallo’s greatest operas.
Cast:
- Santuzza – Eva-Maria Westbroek
- Turiddu – Aleksandrs Antonenko (except 13 Dec) / Yonghoon Lee (13 Dec)
- Mamma Lucia – Elena Zilio
- Alfio – Dimitri Platanias
- Lola – Martina Belli
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Canio – Aleksandrs Antonenko
- Tonio – Dimitri Platanias
- Nedda – Carmen Giannattasio (except 29 Dec) / Simona Mihai (29 Dec)
- Beppe – Benjamin Hulett
- Silvio – Dionysios Sourbis
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
3 | 7 | 10* | 15 | 18 | 29 December at 7.30pm
21 December at 2pm
December at 12.30pm
1 January at 3pm
*Live cinema relay
The Firework-Maker's Daughter (Linbury Studio Theatre)
David Bruce
Lib: Glyn Maxwell
Dir: John Fulljames
Cond: Alice Farnham
CHROMA
This tale of courage, friendship and growing up is a theatrical event for all the family. David Bruce’s magical opera is based on a fairytale by Philip Pullman.
10 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 December at 7pm
12 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 30 December at 2pm and 7pm
28 | 29 | 31 December at 12.30pm and 5pm
1 January at 2pm
2 January at 2pm and 7pm
Winter Season
Eugene Onegin
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Dir: Kasper Holten
Cond: Semyon Bychkov
Tchaikovsky’s most famous opera is given an elegiac telling in Kasper Holten’s production.
Cast:
- Eugene Onegin – Dmitri Hvorostovsky
- Tatyana – Nicole Car
- Lensky – Michael Fabiano
- Olga – Oksana Volkova
- Prince Gremin – Ferruccio Furlanetto (except 7 Jan) / Brindley Sheratt (7 Jan)
- Madame Larina – Diana Montague
- Filipyevna – Catherine Wyn-Rogers
- Monsieur Triquet – Jean-Paul Fouchécourt
- Captain – David Shipley §
- Zaretsky – James Platt §
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
19 December at 7pm
22 | 30 December at 7.30pm
2 January at 7pm
4 | 7 January at 7.30pm
Tosca
Giacomo Puccini
Dir: Jonathan Kent
Cond: Emmanuel Villaume (except 2, 5 Feb) / Paul Wynne Griffiths (2, 5 Feb)
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 – Angela Gheorghiu (9, 12, 15, 18, 21 Jan) / Amanda Echalaz (11, 25, 29 Jan; 2, 5 Feb)
- Mario Cavaradossi – Francesco Meli (9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 29 Jan) / Riccardo Massi (11 Jan; 2, 5 Feb)
- Scarpia – Samuel Youn (9, 12, 15, 18, 21 Jan) / Roberto Frontali (11, 25, 29 Jan; 2, 5 Feb)
- Spoletta – Hubert Francis
- Cesare Angelotti – Yuriy Yurchuk §
- Sacristan – Donald Maxwell
- Sciarrone – David Shipley §
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
9 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 25 | 29 January at 7.30pm
2 | 5 February at 7.30pm
La traviata
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: Richard Eyre
Cond: Yves Abel (January, February, except 6 Feb) / Richard Hetherington (6 Feb) / Nicola Luisotti (Mar)
Verdi’s tragic opera of a Parisian courtesan who sacrifices all for love is vividly told in Richard Eyre’s production.
Cast:
January, February
- Violetta Valéry – Venera Gimadieva
- Alfredo Germont – Saimir Pirgu
- Giorgio Germont – Luca Salsi
- Flora Bervoix – Andrea Hill
- Gastone de Letorières – Luis Gomes
- Annina – Sarah Pring
- Baron Douphol – Yuriy Yurchuk §
- Doctor Grenvil – James Platt §
- Marquis D’Obigny – Jeremy White
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
March
- Violetta Valéry – Maria Agresta (except 16, 19 Mar) / Nicole Cabell (16, 19 Mar)
- Alfredo Germont – Rolando Villazón (1, 4, 7 Mar) / TBC (9, 12, 16, 19 Mar)
- Giorgio Germont – Quinn Kelsey (except 16, 19 Mar) / TBC (16, 19 Mar)
- Flora Bervoix – Justina Gringyte
- Gastone de Letorières – Samuel Sakker §
- Annina – Gaynor Keeble
- Baron Douphol – Yuriy Yurchuk §
- Doctor Grenvil – James Platt §
- Marquis D’Obigny – Jeremy White
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
16 | 19 | 22 | 27 | 30 January at 7pm
4 February | 1 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 19 March at 7pm
6 February at 12 noon
L’Étoile NEW
Emmanuel Chabrier
Dir: Mariame Clément
Cond: Mark Elder
French director Mariame Clément makes her Royal Opera debut with Chabrier’s fabulously frothy comic opera.
Cast:
- King Ouf I – Christophe Mortagne
- Siroco – Simon Bailey
- Prince Hérisson de Porc-Epic – François Piolino
- Tapioca – Aimery Lefèvre
- Lazuli – Kate Lindsey
- Princesse Laola – Hélène Guilmette
- Aloès – Julie Boulianne
- Patacha – Samuel Sakker §
- Zalzal – Samuel Dale Johnson §
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
1 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 18 | 24 February at 7.30pm
20 February at 7pm
Il trittico
Giacomo Puccini
Dir: Richard Jones
Cond: Nicola Luisotti
An evening of dramatic power and emotional range: Richard Jones presents a vibrant production of Puccini’s trio of operas.
Cast:
- Michele – Lucio Gallo
- Giorgetta – Martina Serafin
- Luigi – Carl Tanner
- Tinca – Carlo Bosi
- Ballad seller – David Junghoon Kim §
- Frugola – Irina Mishura
- Lovers – Lauren Fagan §, Luis Gomes
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Sister Angelica – Ermonela Jaho
- The Princess – Anna Larsson
- Abbess – Irina Mishura
- Monitress – Elena Zilio
- Mistress of the Novices – Elizabeth Sikora
- Nursing Sister – Jennifer Davis §
- Alms Sister – Emily Edmonds §
- Sister Genovieffa – Lauren Fagan §
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Gianni Schicchi – Lucio Gallo
- Lauretta – Susanna Hurrell
- Rinuccio – Paolo Fanale
- Zita – Elena Zilio
- Gherardo – Carlo Bosi
- Nella – Rebecca Evans
- Simone – Gwynne Howell
- Betto di Signa – Jeremy White
- Marco – David Kempster
- La Ciesca – Marie McLaughlin
- Maestro Spinelloccio – Matteo Peirone
- Ser Amantio di Nicolao – Tiziano Bracci
- Guccio – David Shipley §
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
25 | 29 February at 6.30pm
3 | 5 | 8 | 15 March at 6.30pm
Antonio Pappano and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Cond: Antonio Pappano
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Antonio Pappano conducts a captivating concert programme that celebrates the award-winning Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.
8 Feb at 7.30pm
Spring Season
Boris Godunov NEW
Modest Musorgsky
Dir: Richard Jones
Cond: Antonio Pappano
Richard Jones directs a new production of Musorgsky’s magnificent opera on the perils of power.
Cast:
- Boris Godunov – Bryn Terfel
- Xenia – Vlada Borovko §
- Xenia’s Nurse – Sarah Pring
- Prince Shuisky – John Graham-Hall
- Andrei Shchelkalov – Kostas Smoriginas
- Pimen – Ain Anger
- Grigory Otrepiev – David Butt Philip
- Varlaam – John Tomlinson
- Missail – Harry Nicoll
- Hostess of the Inn – Rebecca de Pont Davies
- Simpleton – Andrew Tortise
- Frontier Guard – James Platt §
- Mitjucha – Adrian Clarke
- Police Office (aka Nikitich) – Jeremy White
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
14 | 18 | 21* | 24 | 26 | 30 March at 7.30pm
5 April at 7.30pm
*Live cinema relay
The Importance of Being Earnest (Barbican Theatre, London / Rose Theater, New York)
Gerald Barry
Dir: Ramin Gray
Cond: Tim Murray (Barbican) / Ilan Volkov (New York)
Gerald Barry’s operatic adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic play is a comic masterpiece.
Barbican Theatre, London
29 | 30 March
1 | 2 | 3 April
Rose Theater, New York
2 | 4 June
Lucia di Lammermoor NEW
Gaetano Donizetti
Dir: Katie Mitchell
Cond: Daniel Oren
Katie Mitchell directs a new production of Donizetti’s tragic opera.
Cast:
- Lucia – Diana Damrau (April) / Aleksandra Kurzak (May)
- Edgardo – Charles Castronovo (April) / Stephen Costello (May)
- Enrico – Ludovic Tézier (April) / Artur Ruciński (May)
- Arturo – Taylor Stayton (April) / David Junghoon Kim § (May)
- Raimondo – Kwangchul Youn (April) / Matthew Rose (May)
- Normanno – Peter Hoare
- Alisa – Rachael Lloyd
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
7 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25* April at 7.30pm
11 | 16 | 19 May at 7.30pm
14 May at 7pm
*Live cinema relay
Tannhäuser
Richard Wagner
Dir: Tim Albery
Cond: Hartmut Haenchen
Tim Albery’s acclaimed production of Wagner’s early opera focusses on the conflicting allures of the sensual and the spiritual.
Cast:
- Tannhäuser – Peter Seiffert
- Elisabeth – Emma Bell
- Venus – Sophie Koch
- Wolfram von Eschinbach – Christian Gerhaher
- Herrmann – Stephen Milling
- Biterolf – Michael Kraus
- Walther von der Vogelweide – Ed Lyon
- Heinrich der Schreiber – Samuel Sakker §
- Reinmar von Zweter – Jeremy White
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
26 | 29 April at 6pm
2 | 5 | 12 May at 6pm
8 | 15 May at 3pm
Oedipe NEW
George Enescu
Dir: Àlex Ollé
Cond: Leo Hussain
The Royal Opera presents La Fura dels Baus’s production of Enescu’s only opera, a rarely-seen masterpiece.
Cast:
- Oedipe – Johan Reuter
- Tirésias – John Tomlinson
- Antigone – Sophie Bevan
- Mérope – Claudia Huckle
- Jocaste – Sarah Connolly
- The Sphynx – Marie-Nicole Lemieux
- Shepherd – Alan Oke
- High Priest – Nicolas Courjal
- Laïos – Hubert Francis
- Créon – Samuel Youn
- Phorbas – In Sung Sim
- The Watcher – Stefan Kocan
- Thésée – Samuel Dale Johnson §
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
23 | 26 | 30 May at 7.15pm
2 | 4 | 8 June at 7.15pm
Pleasure NEW | LONDON PREMIERE (Lyric Hammersmith)
Mark Simpson
Lib: Melanie Challenger
Dir: Tim Albery
Set in a gay club, this world premiere from British rising star composer Mark Simpson is his operatic debut.
11 | 12 | 13 | 14 May
Summer Season
4.48 Psychosis NEW | WORLD PREMIERE (Lyric Hammersmith)
Philip Venables
The world premiere of composer Philip Venables’s opera, based on Sarah Kane’s extraordinary play about her experience of depression.
20–28 May
Nabucco
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: Daniele Abbado
Cond: Maurizio Benini (except 30 June) / Renato Balsadonna (30 June)
Director Daniele Abbado explores themes of identity, exile and religion in this powerful staging of Verdi’s epic opera.
Cast:
- Nabucco – Plácido Domingo (6, 9, 13, 23 June) / Dimitri Platanias (15, 18, 21, 25, 30 June)
- Zaccaria – John Relyea
- Abigaille – Liudmyla Monastyrska (except 21, 25 June) / Tatiana Melnychenko (21, 25 June)
- Ismaele – Leonardo Capalbo (6, 9, 15, 18, 23, 25 June) / Jean-François Borras (13, 21, 30 June)
- Fenena – Jamie Barton
- Anna – Vlada Borovko §
- Abdallo – Samuel Sakker §
- High Priest of Baal – David Shipley §
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
6 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 30 June at 7.30pm
25 June at 7pm
Werther
Jules Massenet
Dir: Benoît Jacquot
Cond: Antonio Pappano
Benoît Jacquot’s production of Massenet’s tragic opera explores the conflict between duty and our most passionate desires.
Cast:
- Werther – Vittorio Grigolo
- Charlotte – Joyce DiDonato
- Albert – David Bizic
- Sophie – Heather Engebretson
- Le Bailli – Jonathan Summers
- Johann – Yuriy Yurchuk §
- Schmidt – François Piolino
- Käthchen – Emily Edmonds §
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
19 June at 3pm
24 | 27* June at 7.15pm
3 July at 3pm
6 | 13 July at 7.15pm
*Live cinema relay
In Parenthesis NEW
Iain Bell
Lib: David Antrobus and Emma Jenkins (after David Jones)
Dir: David Pountney
Cond: Carlo Rizzi
Welsh National Opera presents a new opera from acclaimed British composer Iain Bell, with a libretto by David Antrobus and Emma Jenkins that adapts David Jones’s epic poem set during the Battle of the Somme.
Cast:
- Private John Ball – TBC
- Bard of Britannia/HQ Officer – Peter Coleman-Wright
- Bard of Germania/Alice the Barmaid/The Queen of the Woods – Alexandra Deshorties
- Lieutenant Jenkins – George Humphreys
- Lance Corporal Lewis – Marcus Farnsworth
- Sergeant Snell – Mark Le Brocq
- Dai Great Coat – Donald Maxwell
- The Marne Sergeant – Graham Clark
29 June at 7.30pm
1 July at 7.30pm
Il trovatore NEW
Giuseppe Verdi
Dir: David Bösch
Cond: Gianandrea Noseda
Director David Bösch makes his UK debut with a new production of Verdi’s searing tragic opera.
Cast:
- Leonora – Lianna Haroutounian (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 July) / Carmen Giannattasio (4, 7, 9, 12, 15 July)
- Manrico – Francesco Meli (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 July) / Gregory Kunde (4, 7, 9, 12, 15 July)
- Count di Luna – Željko Lučić (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 July) / Christopher Maltman (4, 7, 9, 12, 15 July)
- Azucena – Ekaterina Semenchuck (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 July) / Marina Prudenskaja (4, 7, 9, 12, 15 July)
- Ferrando – Maurizio Muraro
- Ines – Jennifer Davis § (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 July) / Lauren Fagan § (4, 7, 9, 12, 15 July)
- Ruiz – David Junghoon Kim §
- Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
§ Jette Parker Young Artist
2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 July at 7.15pm
17 July at 6.30pm
Jette Parker Young Artists Summer Performance
17 July at 12.30pm
This article has 161 comments
Only getting Kaufmann for 2 nights for the whole year is a bit disappointing.
What has happened to Marina Poplavskaya at the Royal Opera House? She was featured in everything for several years but is nowhere to be found in the forthcoming season and withdrew from Falstaff without explanation. Will she be returning at some point?
Can she still sing?
Enough to keep me interested, particularly the new operas. Agree about Kaufmann. Hope I'm still alive to hear him sing 'Otello'. (In the 2016/17 season?)
We have been blessed with a lot of Kaufmann performances (14 within nine months from June 2014-Feb 2015, including two important role debuts), probably as much as or more than any other house in the world away from his home in Munich. So although we are sad to only have Jonas twice in 2015-16, we think there are many other exciting singers, and we look forward to having him back for his debut as Otello in 2016-17.
I agree with Steve Devian. For me, Kaufmann's Otello will warrant the long distance flight from California. Interesting new operas. Wish list: Katy Kahana, international broadcast of Linbury productions.
The most uninspired planning for the next season in my 55 years of operagoing.
Couldn't agree more. Too many warhorses, and the few novelties are spoiled by dismal casting. This will be the first season in many years in which I will probably not visit London, as there is really nothing to look forward to here.
Will Joseph Calleja be singing at all during the season 2015/2016. I seem to have missed his name.
Hi Anna,
Joseph is not scheduled for any productions during the 2015/16 Season. He is however performing in La bohème this summer:
http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/la-boheme-by-john-copley
Thanks
Chris,
ROH Content Producer
I cannot see any performance dates above for L'Etoile (which is a production I am interested in seeing)
Do we know if the new Boris Godunov production will be in traditional Russian costume or an updated version?
This press release doesn't currently seem to have a list of dates for either La traviata or L'etoile, while dates for all other operas are listed in full. Could you add them please?
What happened to Renée Fleming, I thought she was going to be in Der Rosenkavalier this season?
Dear Lauren
This is the first time we have announced our 2015/16 Season - information published elsewhere should be taken as speculation.
Best wishes
Ellen
I believe there is a NEW production in the following season conducted by Andris Nelsons.
At least that is what he told me.
Renée will be singing Rosenkavalier at The Met in the 16/17 season, so maybe she will come to the ROH after. I asked her that question in Feb and that is what she told me.
Some really interesting choices here. The performance dates of La traviata and L’Etoile seem to be missing.
Dear Paul
Afraid that our database was just running a little show - everything should now be showing.
Best wishes
Ellen
Dates for L'Etoile?
Disappointed to see yet more revivals of Traviata, but all in all interesting season.
Dear John
L'Etoile will be showing 1-24 February:
http://www.roh.org.uk/productions/letoile-by-mariame-clement
Best wishes
Ellen
The new productions look very interesting and I'm happy to see some of them double cast - I'll go twice to Trovatore and Lucia for sure! There do seem to be an awful lot of revivals of pieces that have been over-exposed in recent years eg Traviata, Carmen, Le Nozze, and many of the revivals feature the same or similar casts to their previous outing. Maybe more interesting for audiences to hear something new?
Last year I commented on Handel and Janacek's absences; I should have included Gluck (especially since it was an anniversary year for him). So I am glad to see some Gluck lined up for this autumn! The musical and dance aspects of that performance are likely to be more interesting than Fulljames's contributions, I would say. Hopefully ENO will take care of Handel and Janacek.
I am looking forward to some of the new operas and to Cavelleria Rusticana/Pagliacci, Boris Godunov, The Importance of Being Earnest and Oedipe.
A lot of the rest of the season seems very routine and familiar though (even though I do like many of the operas concerned), with rote casting. In fact there are many high-profile singers who are not appearing at all in 2015/16.
Nope.... no Handel at the ENO either for the new season. Very disappointed.
Very excited about Enescu's OEDIPE. A work that I have been wanting to see for a very long time. Which version of BORIS GODONOV are you staging i.e. which orchestraion? I do not see a Marina listed.
I was going to ask the same question. Will the duet between Marina and Rangoni be cut?
It will be the original 1869 version, without the Polish act and the Kromy forest, and with Mussorgsky's original orchestration.
I think it is a reasonably interesting season with a few novelties, but why KM as Ariadne? Past her prime indeed. I too had heard from internal sources that RF was to give us her Ariadne, so this is a big disappointment. The Lucia with Damrau/Kurzak and the Boris with Terfel will be plenty of compensation though.
One serious point though, do we really need yet more multiple cast Traviatas? It's a plague. I read this on Opera Brittania's website the other day and it seems appropriate to post it here:
"Reports of audience members killing themselves having attended 36 performances of La traviata with 11 different casts, is beginning to concern us. Yes we accept they are money-spinners, but we are murdering our financial buffer. According to the Guardian, suicide after attending multiple casts of a Verdi or Puccini opera is the biggest cause of death amongst opera goers after bowel failure. A moratorium on multiple castings is therefore requested."
As mentioned in another comment, we promise not force anyone to see Traviata. But there is a big audience out there with appetite for it - even, we know, a lot of first timers -, so surely they should be allowed to go and the opera lovers can pick other titles? I would only be very happy if it was as easy to sell 'interesting' titles as it is to sell Traviata...
And Fleming is in her prime? She's almost in retirement. Anyway, the Strauss soprano par excellence today is Krassimira Stoyanova, who of course is, no where, to be found at the ROH.
Karita Matila was stunning as Ariadne in the ROH Birmingham concert performance last year - dominated the role better than any soprano I can remember since Janowitz - and so I think it good that ROH audiences will have the chance the hear one of her best roles.
Ariadne has never been one of my favourite operas, however, my view of this opera was completely changed after hearing Karita Mattila perform this opera last season. Past her prime??? Far from it. Perhaps you should go see it and judge for yourself.
There's some thin casting here - both the Haas and Chabrier are made up people operalovers have never heard of, and there are major casting holes: this is a season without Netrebko, Garanca, Calleja, Marcelo Alvarez, Radvanovsky, Alagna, and even Kaufmann is only singing two performances. And what has happened to Poplavskaya?
Gerhaher as Wolfram and the Enescu are the only things worth a detour for me. If I were London-based I'd also enjoy Lucia, and it'd be great to see what JD makes of Charlotte. L'etoile also temps, but without Petibon? Not really.
Apart from the obscure new pieces, was confused and thought I was reading the line up from past seasons - everything coming back round and mostly with the same people.. Even productions that were badly reviewed the first time - and yet more Traviatas...
Absolutely agree - both Nabucco and Onegin were trashed by the press but we have to endure them again if we want to hear the music. And why the repeated casts?
I see a lot of you are sorry about performances of Traviata. There is a big appetite out there with our audiences for Traviata, Carmen, Tosca, Boheme, Figaro.. As long as we have other interesting titles in the mix, I think that is the most important thing. We know that these popular titles draw in a lot of new audiences, which is much harder for even slightly less well known titles. And I promise, we are not going to force you to come to see Traviata. There should be plenty of other things to see, surely?
This is a response to Kaspar Holten's "There should be plenty of other things to see, surely?" - Yes, just not at Covent Garden
An interesting selection and I look forward to seeing many of them. My only concern is with the new productions as to whether they will be minimalist, avant-garde, time-changed, arty or hopefully decent full staging in original periods!
We will try in the bimonthly print marketing to give as much of a description of the new productions as is possible in advance of their creation, so hopefully you can avoid disappointment, although I would always encourage us all to be curious and take chances with seeing new and different things. We aim to have a mix of different production styles, traditional, modern and more abstract/timeless - for lack of less crude labels - and this will certainly be true of next season as well.
Three cheers for Boris and Oedipe! The former is probably the most admired opera I've yet to see staged; and the latter is a major work that I know only by reputation. Though I'm not a huge Donizetti fan, I'm glad to get the chance to tick off Lucia, which I think is the most frequently staged work I've yet to see. Also glad to have a Tannhauser, and pleased to see Werther and Trittico among the revivals.
It would be nice to have a Gluck other than Orphee / Orfeo, which has had a couple of British stagings (albeit not in London) in the last year; but my major gripe is, as it has been ever since I became a regular operagoer a few years ago, the absence of Janacek! Please, please rectify this soon!
I also wonder, like some others above, if we REALLY need annual Traviatas and Carmens - when, for instance, it's been four years since your last Aida, a decade since La Forza del Destino, and you've never staged Pearl Fishers? And though I love Figaro as much as anything, it had two long runs last season, while it's been three years since your last Cosi.
Nevertheless... carping aside, I am looking forward to quite a lot here, including (lest we forget) some of the new works and another baroque collaboration with the Globe.
Thanks for the comments! We announced as well today that we will be doing a cycle of four new productions of Janacek operas from 2018-2021: Katya Kabanova (directed by Ivo van Hove), From the House of the Dead (directed by Krzysztof Warlikowski), Vec Makropulos and Jenufa. So there is hope, but you will have to be patient a little longer!
2015-6 Season - well this punter so disappointed - bar a few items - how desparate to block with so , so many Traviata / Carmen / Tosca s - and casts already largely already recently seen.
Lucia & Cav & Pag - hardly innovative or exciting .
If Orfeo with JDF is the version with great looking dance sequences should be interesting.
Realise that Boris & the Chabrier will have their admirers....and if JOYCE singing no option but to go.
Jonas for 2 Carmen performances only - v poor offering to his adoring public.
The number of wonderful singers left out too massive to detail - such a shame.
Maybe an economical year for me - good then - advantage of a lacklustre year ahead.
It's the returning casts that really bother me about these revivals. Okay, the house needs Traviata, Tosca, Carmen etc to balance the books but why do we need to keep on hearing singers in the same roles? I would have attended the revival of Il Trittico, for example, but with that casting I might as well just watch the dvd at home. The same goes for Nabucco - you've just released the dvd so would it not have been good to feature a mid career baritone rather than the flailing Domingo?
A somewhat uninspiring season to be totally honest except for the new works and Tannhauser. How much are the prices going up for standing room places in each part of the auditorium?.
It would be very helpful if you would tell us if the "new" productions are brand new or second hand brought in from other houses and if they have been seen before exactly where they were first put on.
Dear Robert
We will be publishing pricing closer to the booking dates for 2015/16.
If you follow the link to the production page you will see details of whether the show is a co-production or originated elsewhere. We don't want to overload the blog posts with too much detail.
Best wishes
Ellen
I had heard that Kaufmann was singing Aida at the Opera House this season as well as in Munich?? Instead only two performances of Carmen in an old production in which we've already seen him. Can't we afford his fees any more? And where are Anna Netrebko, Anja Harteros, Elina Garanca and Joseph Calleja?
Yet another year without Peter Mattei. Will he ever be booked by ROH again?! Been waiting 7/8 years now.
Couldn't agree more. A wonderful singer and actor .I note his birthday is not recorded in the ROH diary.
Getting Kaufmann for only two nights?
What about Amsterdam where he never performs, for whatever reason. Finance I guess.
Where is Simon Keenlyside? ROH was supposed to be his main base after he became a father.
I am also surprised that Simon Keenlyside is nowhere to be found. I would appreciate a comment from the opera house.
Plenty of good stuff to look forward to here -
Bryn as Boris, Oedipe, new Trovatore, Florez as Orfeo, more Baroque at Globe Wanamaker hurrah.
I had been praying you would get Gerhaher back to repeat his sublime Wolfram.
My big gripe is allowing Daniel Oren back after he made such a terrible hash of Ballo this season, it's putting me off Luica, I may wait for a better conductor
Only 3 Ariadnes suggests the rumour that you were getting Renee Fleming was true but you've lost her ? We may never know as you won't admit to losing anyone !
Overall plenty to celebrate here.
The endless reruns of Traviata and Tosca help to pay the bills and get newcomers in, and it isn't mandatory for the regulars to go to them !
Very nice, better than last season! No Garanca, Netrebko or Fleming, which is sad, but plenty of very talented up-and-coming singers. Pleased to see DiDonato as Charlotte, finally, and Kurzak as Lucia. I only wish Francesco Meli and Gregory Kunde would swap casts... Haroutounian, Kunde and Lučić would be a dream.
Guardian says:
Holten also revealed a tantalising glimpse of 2018’s highlights – man of the moment Ivo van Hove will take on Janáček’s Káťa Kabanová, while another Janáček – the RO’s first-ever production of From the House of the Dead - will be part of 2019’s lineup.
And where is Mozart, may I ask? One opera? And Figaro at that? Why not Così or Entführung?
Was there really no one else to conduct Lucia other than Oren? What the right hand gives, the left takes away.
It says something when Mattila's Ariadne is the thing I am most looking forward to see.
It's not really a season to compare with Paris, Munich or Berlin.
I am delighted to see Oedipe and L'Etoile on the schedule, as I have wanted to see both for a long time and they are rarely performed anywhere these days, so well done ROH on that particular count.
Good to see more of Richard Jones productions...I loved Il Trittico first time round and will certainly come again and can't wait for his Boris Godunov with Bryn Terfel.
Katie Mitchell's Lucia and Damiano Michieletto's Cav & Pag both look promising new productions too.
As for the usual revivals (Carmen, Tosca, Traviata), like many others I won't be attending but I do at least understand the box office need for reliable income generators.
Yes, more Janacek please, especially a new Jenufa!
Apart from a few interesting exceptions (Boris, finally!), an overall disappointing season especially compared to the current one: lots of big names missing and some old productions that have been shown a few hundred times already. Do we really need that? Lack of creativity? Or is ROH maybe losing part of its international appeal? I don't know but I am not too happy with this season.
A whole season without a single Rossini and Bellini opera and only one old Mozart production. And do we really need again Tosca, Traviata and Carmen? Well, good for tourists but should we not expect a bit more?
Dear Stefano
With three productions in the current Season, the Rossini-lovers are having rather a feast during 2014/15: http://www.roh.org.uk/people/gioachino-rossini
There are also four Mozart productions in the current Season: http://www.roh.org.uk/people/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart
Tosca, La traviata and Carmen aren't just for tourists - the classics are a great way for us to engage those who have never seen an opera before. We have to balance the wishes of the aficionado (who will have had many opportunities to see these productions) with those who have never ventured across our threshold.
I hope that you can find something to engage you across the rest of the Season.
Best wishes
Ellen
No Pavol Breslik - that's a disappointment.
Thank you for OEDIPE! I am already making travel plans!
Me too. Oidipe is a masterpiece and Enescu a master.
A typo on this page, too: "Oepide" (in the first line of its section) should of course be "Oedipe".
Thank you for alerting us to this, Robert. We publish so many production pages and blog posts around Season launch that inevitably some typos creep in - only a very small number, I hope! This has now been corrected.
Best wishes
Ellen
Uninspiring season on the whole; Good to see Cav/Pag, and a welcome return for Il Trittico (still one of the best overall evenings for me in the house). On the whole though far too many revivals of productions that seem to be on every season, and revivals of such dreadful productions such as Onegin and Nabucco.
Dear Janacek-lovers,
wait maybe another season and you will see Katia Kabanova :-)
I wonder why you invite friends to the announcement of the 2015/16 season and then publish it here a day before the event,
Dear David
The event today is a chance to hear the new Season presented by the Artistic Directors of the ROH, so it should be very interesting. Don't feel that you have to attend if you don't want to!
Best wishes
Ellen
And I wonder they put the Season Launch at a time when only the rich or retired are able to get to it. Great planning....
I feel your comment is unnecessarily rude! Of course I didn't have to attend - my point was that your announcement could have been delayed until after the event, which would have made the event more interesting.
The only reason I could think that would justify a new Trovatore would be if the production would have been designed for Netrebko. You are missing out on such an exceptional soprano with your lack of interesting project for this wonderful artist.
Extremely dull season ahead apart from a few new productions that could be interesting.
Finally we get a new Lucia unfortunately without Kwienchen and Grigolo but still happy to see this wonderful bel canto opera back at the ROH.
Very surprised to see a new production of Cavalleria rusticana /Pagliacci without Kauffman.
The Orphée with Juan-Diego Florez and the Boris Godunov with Terfel sound promising and the Werther also.
Sorry but I will be skipping Nozze, Tosca, Traviata and Carmen except if I can manage to get tickets for one of the 2 nights Kauffman will be there.
Honestly not very impressed by the new season.
Even wondering if I will renew my friend membership.
Oh dear, what a dull season. I see Daniel Oren is back to 'conduct' yet again. Why?
Dear Greg
Daniel Oren is a conductor of international stature, but nobody's work is to everyone's taste. Sorry to hear that there's nothing to tempt you in our more than sixty productions in 2015/16!
Best wishes
Ellen
'Pleasure, set in a gay club': from a a kid-composer who looks to know as much about gay clubs as an eight year old schoolgirl and a libretto by a previous eight year old schoolgirl. I'm sure they're very talented and all, but you Brits certainly know how to whitewash gay sex like nobody's business. 'Val works the toilets at a gay club' WHAT??? Bring a book, this one's gonna be a yawn-fest!
Dear Jared
Nothing like jumping to conclusions about people's range of experience! You never know, you might be surprised ;-)
Best wishes
Ellen
Great news that ROH is recognising the prodigious talenrt od Carmen Giannatasio! Trovatore and Pag ! DO note she IS performimg NORMA elsewhere ! and how long since we last had that satisfactorily staged!!!!???
Looking forward to Nabucco. I loved it two years ago and am sure it will be fab again.
Maybe I'm getting old (60), I am completely underwhelmed by the new season. The same old seat fillers. Terfel's Boris and Morgen und Abend are about the only operas that interest me. Some of the off site production looks far more interesting.
Quite pleased with the new season (at least of pre 1930s opera - the new commissions hold no interest) - a big mistake bringing Domingo back though. I appreciate he's considered "star quality", but he's past it. Better to have someone like Anna Netrebko in a different work than to sacrifice artistic quality.
Tosca, Carmen etc. are the bread and butter of every opera house. The fact that the house is invariably full shows that there is an audience. They deserve to be heard frequently. Boris is particularly exciting.
If you really have to hire Daniel Oren, for some obscure reason, would be grateful if you could at least have another conductor for some of the performances...
A bit crestfallen that we have to wait until June 2016 to see Vittorio Grigolo back at Covent Garden : (
Otherwise looking forward to lots of new discoveries next season!
Kasper's late night comment above had some extraordinarily good news about Janacek. He says an announcement was made yesterday; I can't find any post about it. Could you provide a link maybe? Or perhaps there is an article on its way?
Dear Cillian
There was a fleeting reference at the press conference, but we will be publishing full details in due course :-)
Best wishes
Ellen
Delighted Trittico is back, especially with Jaho! Bit disappoitned have got nozze instead of cosi (which hasn't been on for a while) but can live with it. Surprised people are bemoaning a lack of Netrebko considering she probably wouldn't turn up if she was booked and if she did turn up she'd give a pretty ropey performance. Lack of Calleja and Kaufmann more disappointing. Not quite sure why we needed Ariadne auf Naxos again quite so soon?
To Rob G,
I am very sorry to disagree with you re Anna Netrebko. I have had the pleasure of seeing Ms Netrebko in Manon and in I Capuletti at the ROH and in Elisir, Macbeth and Anna Bolena at the Met. Plus a few concerts in London and Paris. On all occasions Ms Netrebko has been absolutely wonderful to hear and see.
I am only extremely surprise that the ROH are not making more efforts to bring Ms Netrebko in some of her newer roles beeing Leonora in Trovatore, Anna Bolena or even Lady Macbeth depriving the audience of the ROH the chance to hear this wonderful soprano in her prime in something different than Traviata or Bohème.
We all have our favorite singners but it is quite surprising that we had to wait 5 years to see Ms Netrebko back at the ROH .
I'm bitterly disappointed Kasper is not wearing his sky blue tie in the new season trailer..
Share many of the already submitted comments. Some very good things and some dreary repetitions. Even the hardest to reach newcomer must have seen that Traviata by now. I know we all have our wish lists, but there are still some very long waits since great works have been seen at the House.Well done for championing new works though, and don't pander to the 'Anything in a pannier skirt' brigade. One thing, with the very greatest of respect to the opera god, could someone please tell Domingo that his singing days are over and could he please leave us the treasured memories?...that Foscari was awful.
Yes I agree - truly dire. He should have retired at his greatest
Every time I come from New Jersey to the Royal Opera is an event for me. I am up early to book tickets when they go on sale to the general public. If I could make my own subscription with dates I would. Other theatres accommodate this request. I am looking foward to and hopefully hearing Trittico, Boris, and Nabucco with Domingo. Past season I heard Andrea Chenier. My friend Denyse Graves was in it. I went backstage and she introduced me to Jonas Kauffman. I told him he was as beautiful in person as he was in his photos. He dais I had good taste.
People, people: Sir Antonio and Mr Holten know best. How could they possibly have any baroque opera seria on the programme? Such things were devised (composed is too creditable a word) by unfeeling machines to flatter aristocratical and inegalitarian habits of thought. They belong in the conservatory and the library (perhaps the odd abandoned chapel too) but are beneath the dignity of the artistic genius of these two luminaries self-tasked with providing catharsis to all of Chirstendom, rich or poor. What is more there is always the issue of scale. We could not put on these "chamber" works in a house of over 2200 seats. It is neither here nor there that J A Hasse wrote for the equally capacious Dresden Court Opera in the 1740s, for we should never consider his worthless scores even if we could, he being of nowhere near such a stature as our very own G F...
Haas.
Haha. Very good. You'll probably be removed though.
If you bothered to look beneath the surface of baroque opera you might be pleasantly surprised ;-)
Echo many comments...No Poplavskya or Calleja, and poor use of the wonderful Jonas Kaufman. The most underwbhlming season I can recall: very little Verdi( and there did not seem to be much during his bicentenary) and very little bel canto. When did ROH last put on Norma or Puritani? Good to see Lucia back but why no reruns of Donna del Lago, which was magnificent 2 years ago, or the recent new production of Ballo?
Don't forget that opera in Britain is not confined to London! Welsh National Opera are staging Puritani in the autumn. It will play at Birmingham and Oxford amongst others, both of which are feasible for an evening trip!
Daniel Oren, you must be joking! Pretty uninspiring overall, and although I would love to see Boris, Bryn Terfel was run of the mill as the Dutchman on the night that we were there so I am not so sure.
I am not sure that people working at the opera house should be interpolating their comments with ours in this forum. It just fans the flames I think to read what we say and then say the opposite as if they know better - given we are the audience isn't this a forum for our views not the official line? They have the whole website to write on...
The season seems to me to make a good job of balancing money-spinners with the less popular works that the experts prefer.
I read somewhere that Di Donato was to star in Semaramide whats happened
this opera has not been seen since 1986 also a lack of Bellini what of Norma IPuritani etc Tosca yet again
I totally agree with James re Bellini.
It would be extremely sad not to have the chance to hear JDF in I puritani. A role he has sang in most european opera house.
Wow that would be awesome - greatest Rossinian of our time no question! Hadn't heard that she was to sing this one though?
Disappointing season and lack of singers. Saves money though and means I can explore other places which do much better. eg Vienna Standing tickets for 4.50Euros in a prime position about 250 of them. That is reaching out to people! There are many pot-boilers that bring in new audiences so why repetition on such a scale, or would that require some creative thinking. One of the few good things is that no new destruction of an opera production by Kaspar Holten.
Dear Jenny
Your comparison of our ticket prices with those of Vienna State Opera is hardly fair - while we receive state subsidy of around 25% they are funded to the tune of 50%. We are a charity, not a profit-making organization, so we set ticket prices as low as we can while still managing to balance the books.
Best wishes
Ellen
The difference between the ROH and Vienna is that the ROH actually rehearses things. If you throw things onto the stage as they do in Vienna with a customary three days of rehearsal, of course you can do it more cheaply. And if you use productions that are, in several cases over 40 years old (their Barbiere and Elisir for starters) and have seen literally several hundred performances of course it costs less. I'll take the ROH over Vienna any day.
Pleasure - new opera by mark Simpson for those who don't know him he is a talented young Liverpool based composer who won young musician of the year and composed some outstanding compositions for Liverpool, I am looking forward to hearing his debut as an opera composer.
As for the season, yes we all get the Traviatas & Toscas, these put bums on seats, they can put on the Sound of Music for all I care as long as I get to see the rare operas like Oedipe and L'Etoile for which I am looking forward to. it annoys me when there are so many negative comments after all we have 2 opera houses in London and many others done in smaller venues or concert versions some rarely done. I look forward to organising my weekends in London which I can see L'Etoile and Oedipe and other performances around them.
Only 1 gripe why haven't the friends received their information before it gets announced, and one other thing I was also under the impression Renee Fleming was going to do a new production of Der Rosenkavalier as she is retiring, any ideas what happened there.
The above comments are interesting and pertinent; having been a Friend for 50 years, this looks, on paper at least, one of the least inspired of seasons. But there is plenty to titillate even the most jaded palate, Rossi's Orpheus, L'Etoile, Oedipe; yummy prospects. What worries me is the standard of revivals; when I started reading, I scrolled back to ensure that this was a NEW season; many of the productions have been revived to death (some others one had hoped to have been consigned to the rubbish dump) and reappear with casts that are familiar, second rate at best and third at worst. The lack of the A-list singers is well pleaded; perhaps the House has learned its lesson as its habit of selling tickets on the backs of the serial cancellers (Ms H and Ms N) had gone beyond the bounds of ethical, Nor is this confined to the stage; one of the glories of the Pappano era has been his willingness to share "his" orchestra with the top-flight conductors, apart from JEG and Bychkov, too many routiniers and how anyone could inflict a conductor, who made such a bosh of his last two assignments, on the new Lucia beggars belief and then to call him of "international stature". I would normally attend at least 4 out of 5 stagings; this year I doubt that I shall be tempted to 1 in 5. A tired lazy season; at least we can get excitement at the "other place".
The amount of moaning on here is hilarious. It just shows you can't please all the people all the time. I think there's plenty of good stuff with some unusual choices we don't get to hear too often.
I love the idea that ROH can just get on the phone and say 'oy Netrebko you're doing 3 with us next season'. Of course we'd love to have all the greatest singers doing 2 or 3 each every year, but it isn't going to happen. They book 5 years ahead and can pick what and where they choose to sing.
we have Florez and Terfel in new roles, unusual Enescu and Chabrier, welcome new productions of classics such as Lucia and Trovatore, not to mention another rarity in the lovely Globe Wanamaker.
Watch how well the Carmen, Traviata and Domingo Nabuccos sell, even at high prices. That's why they are needed to balance the books and allow the riskier fare that we want to see !
And of course some of the bemoaned absentees are probably coming in future seasons - Norma, Semiramide, Rosenkavalier etc will hopefully pop up in 16-18, according to rumour.
I say well done ROH for a well balanced season.
Couldn't agree more, Roy. It's a very exciting/interesting season, and I can't wait to get stuck in. And lots of Janacek on the way, including a 'Katya' directed by Ivo van Hove. I was disappointed about Kaufmann, of course, but we were spoilt, as Kasper Holten implies in his post, and, anyway, there's his first Otello heading our way.
Hofesh Shechter co-directing Orphée et Eurydice? What a bizarre choice. He did nothing interesting with the Royal Ballet, showing no willingness to engage with, or respond to, classical technique (which would have been fascinating) - just giving us a repetitive, watered-down version of what he usually does with his contemporary dance company. I hope this will be more engaging.
Let's hope the season book gives full information about the style of each new production. After a vast amount of money being spent on an incomprehensible 'La Donna del Lago', the idiotic and inept 'Maria Stuarda' and the ludicrous 'Idomeneo' we need to know what to avoid. I adore 'Lucia di Lammermoor' but dread to think what a trendy, incompetent director and designer might make of it. PROPER INFORMATION PLEASE!
Hi Mark,
You can find out detailed information about each production via their individual pages.
These can be found either by clicking on the links provided, or by going to http://www.roh.org.uk/events
Thanks,
Chris
ROH Content Producer
When, oh when will we have Kasper Holten's Lohengrin with Klaus Florian Vogt?
Please God, never.
May I say, What a wonderful programme!
I think we are quite spoilt, despite the unbelievable negativity (yet predictable) among the grumbling comments. We can all imagine things missing! Why not enjoy the plenty proffered us? There is plenty of that plenty here!
Thank you so very much, ROH!
Fantastic news about L'étoile although I fear that the house might be too large for it - the work really works best in a smaller venue. Still, it's great to see Chabrier being performed and as his No. 1 promoter - I've been working on his biography for some years now - I'd be very interested in providing a pre-performance talk for this (having done this for Opera North on tour and New Sussex Opera)!
Great to see Peter Hoare again!
The ROH should make better use of Gheorghiu's potential: in the last few years you have lost her to Vienna and the MET. Meyer convinced her to do a new role in Vienna; why can't Pappano ask her the same for the ROH?
There are so many new roles she would be memorable in: Elisabetta in Don Carlo, Julia in La Vestale, Wally, Manon Lescaut, Fedora, Amelia in Un ballo, Luisa Miller, and especially Desdemona in Otello.
I hope that the 2016/17 season will bring Gheorghiu in a new role in a new production.
The individual pages for each opera give a lot of information except about the style of each production. I do not want to waste any more money seeing inept and inappropriate productions that make me want to close my eyes. I can achieve the same experience from a broadcast. The recent 'Maria Stuarda' was so awful I left ROH furious and gained far more pleasure when I heard the opera broadcast on Radio 3! Surely something is wrong when productions of such ineptness are allowed on stage? That's why I ask for FULL information!
You could do some homework about a director's style - not always reliable because interpretation/production style varies between different operas. Search the name on youtube and there will be plenty of clips from his or her work, and if you don't like what you see don't go and see their work. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the two productions you hated. Thankfully we are all different in what we want from opera, what we value. Accept that not everyone thinks like you.
Surely you aren't referring to the Joyce DiDonato version last year. Admittedly the costumes and stage design were a little odd and didn't do much to enhance the music or the story. But in the end it's all about the music and she sang the title role like a dream.
Very very disappointing programme. We've seen all the old productions, some more than once and the new ones are uninspiring. Not much new at all for Verdi and Wagner fans.
Kristine Opolais had a huge success in Manon Lescaut and Madam Butterfly. It's a great shame that you do not have anything booked for Kristine Opolais next seaon or any future seasons. I spoke to Kristine and she confirmed this was the case. Why are you waiting, she is booked for the next 5 years.
Mr. Holten writes that "I would only be very happy if it was as easy to sell 'interesting' titles as it is to sell Traviata..."
Yet in the current run of Traviatas for May/June 2015 the only sold out performances are the two featuring Placido Domingo. For most of the others there are still 100+ tickets.
Maybe there will be a late surge, but at the moment it doesn't look like an easy sell.
I am deligthed by your plans. I am looking forward to Ofeo & Boris G and to encouraging people I have taken this year to La Traviata to go to Carmen. I hope you are not all discouraged by the negative comments. At least you get some ideas about what operas people want to see. I would like to suggest Fidelio, The Force of Destiny and a different Mozart Opera might be included in the 16/17 season.
Whilst looking forward to the new in the programme, and understanding the need for the tried and trusted, I really cannot fathom why Daniel Oren is back. He is the only conductor who makes the ROH orchestra sound poor - an uninspired choice, and one guaranteed to ensure I won't be booking. Were there any good reviews of his work this season?
After such a poor season has been announced I don't think I will renew my Friend of Covent Garden card. The more I read it the more I find it disappointing both in titles and casts / directors / conductors. Prices are increasing and quality is decreasing. Does it make sense? I am afraid next year we will have to fly to Germany, Italy, Austria and Spain looking for some top productions.
Hi Royal opera house
when is Juan Diego Florez going to do the role of Alfredo Germont the only tenors who did it at the royal opera opera house are joseph calleja and stephan castello can you please tell me when Juan Diego Florez going to do it and when?
Hi Marie,
We have no scheduled performances of La traviata starring Juan Diego Florez. For all of his performances internationally, I'd recommend checking his website:
http://juandiegoflorez.com/
Thanks,
Chris
ROH Content Producer
Looking forward to Boris and Il Trittico and can't understand the negativity about KM in Ariadne - I thought that was a real highlight last year. But is Tosca really AG's role ? I saw her debut in the role at ROH several years back and thought it really didn't suit her. In last outing as Magda in Rondine - one of her past career triumphs - she seemed distinctly out of sorts . I am not sure of the wisdom behind this casting . Surely she needs a bit of nurturing for want of a better word ?
It is a shame to read all the negative comments on here. The arrogance of people that don't believe you can be a proper opera fan or somehow lack intellect or class if you like Romantic opera such as Verdi/Puccini etc is disappointing. If you look at global CD and ticket sales - these are the most popular operas and therefore would expect to be featured several times a season. They also allow for less popular (proper - according to the commentators above) operas to be put on which aren't going to cover their costs and I can see a number of these next season. Incidentally as the ROH is part public funded there may be an argument that the majority of people who like their Italian Romantic Style opera shouldn't have to fund those that prefer the less accessible music - would people who want challenging music be willing to pay 3x the price in order to break even? (I do agree though with the ROH's stance that it should provide a varied programme) I can see the case for people that are disappointed that the ROH hasn't secured various 'Stars' for the next season but as they are the certain way to sell the house out then I think we are safe to assume that every effort would've been made to sign them up. The ROH has very rarely given me anything other than a world class evening of opera and I look forward to next season
Yes - there are the standard pot-boilers there; but there are enough interesting productions, including some revivals that I've wanted to see (like Trittico).
As always, I'd like to see a little more pre-1800 (why not explore some of the excellent Salieri or Paisiello or even Haydn)?
Best of all - when you look at the ROH season next to ENO is that they work quite nicely as a pair.
I dont know why people are complaining about the new season. I often go to the Vienna Staatsoper, but their new season is really disappointing and uninspiring - it probably does not help that they have not got a music director. So I shall certainly be a frequent visitor to the ROH for the new season!
Rene Fleming is walking the boards on Broadway in New York this summer. "living for Love"; if you can believe it. Kaufmann manager has told him to only sing 2 performances at a time. Keep them guessing. At the Met he was to sing only twice in Carmen, but didn't show.
I would love if one day the Royal Opera House performed a ballet of Dracula.
It would be amazing.
All their ballets are.
Please can you do 'The Bohemian Girl' by Balfe? The music is glorious.
Kasper Holten wrote :
"I would only be very happy if it was as easy to sell 'interesting' titles as it is to sell Traviata..."
Here's the key question. By only offering always, always and always the same VERY LIMITED repertoire, the programmers tend to reduce audiences' curiosity and culture. Yes, it's probably harder to sell Oedipe than it is to sell Traviata. But it's part of the work and the challenge of opera directors (and, more generally of any artistic programmers).
Why is it that when someone makes a first move on some neglected repertoire, soon after we see blossoming productions of that work (same thing happened with l'Etoile, with Die Tote Stadt, with Der Zwerg, Ariane et Barbe-Bleue, the new Meyerbeer tide, and probably a few more) ? So, be not afraid of giving more room for new and exciting repertoire ; there are still LOTS of worthwhile works waiting to be discovered and performed, alongside the (too) much trampled repertoire. If you want titles, just ask. Greetings.
I am delighted that the fine Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda will finally be making his debut, and great that he makes it with a new production of Trovatore. Can't wait !!
Very pleased to see the new works by young contemporary composers, especially Mark Simpson, but why not one opera by a major English composer, alive or dead, in the main house?
"but why not one opera by a major English composer, alive or dead, in the main house?"
Exactly. And for once, NOT Britten !
I will not be going to see Cav and Pag. I am fed up with updated productions which do not suit the subject
Why didn't you programmed a so beautiful season at cinema.
What a pity to program me only five operas
Will definitely try to see Diana Damrau as Lucia - saw her at the Met a few seasons back and she was superb - without prejudging the new production I wish we were borrowing theirs as it was gorgeous. Must be a nightmare balancing the books and understand the need for Traviata etc but some of the casting is a little predictable. Will have to go elsewhere for a Handel fix but the Gluck is a welcome sight and, as one of my favourite ROH productions was the King Goes Forth to France in Finnish, I will be tempted to try some of the more avant garde works
Interesting program with lots of new operas in the linbury and the Rossi by candlelight .
Amazed with so many new names of singers. I remember Gilgi and co.
Some singers now appear only once or twice and then disappear.
So disappointed in the cast of Boris Godunov. One of the most fascinating operas in the entire season, why wouldn't you invite Russian-speaking singers? Especially there are so many great once. The accents make this opera unlistenable. And hope Khvorostovsky would recover for Onegin.
I am so disappointed that no Handel will be performed either by ROH or by ENO during 2015-2016. When can we next expect a Handel Opera?
Hi Karen,
No Handel operas are scheduled for the upcoming 2015/16 Season and future Seasons are still TBC.
Thanks
Chris
ROH Content Producer
So happy you have Joyce DiDonato appearing summer 2015 - probably the top lyric coloratura mezzo of our times - and curious to see her Werther. She aced your Cendrillon a few years ago. So a major coup for the ROH☺
Will previous seasons' performances, filmed for limited screenings, become available for purchase? I'm especially interested in performances by Jonas Kaufmann. Thank you.
Hi Ellen,
Details of DVD/Blu-Ray releases will be publicized via this section of the site, as well as via social media. Do keep an eye out
Thanks
Chris
ROH Content Producer
Emma Bell .... Fabulous!
Hi Chris,
Orphée et Eurydice by Gluck, performed by John Eliot Gardiner last September - when will it be published on DVD/Blue-Ray?
It is the best performing of this work I ever have heard and seen.
greetings from Hamburg
Günter Wolter
Hi Günter,
I'm afraid no DVD/Blu-Ray release is scheduled.
Sorry to disappoint you!
Chris
ROH Content Producer
Great to read all the different opinions.
It's sad when ones favorite singer or opera does not appear in the season. I think opera manage et may be more complicated than one thinks!,
Often wonder how the curtain ever goes up each evening.
It's all magical
A lot of discussions about opera titles, cast and performance. My concern is a concept of production! Unfortunately, I can’t accept Kaspen Holten’s interpretation of Eugine Onegin which is overdramatic instead of being lyrical. Sorry to say, there is lack of Russian identity or Russian images in it. Wish ROH could bring Maryinsky theatre recent production by Gergiev and Stepanuk.
Great season!!!!
Thank you ROH! :-)
Hopefully we can see and listen to DON CARLO, RIGOLETTO, LA RONDINE and FAUST in the upcoming seasons!
...and the best thing (in the world!!!) would be to see Bellini's NORMA...with the one and only ANGELA GHEORGHIU! She would be the absolute perfect fit for this role!! What an event that would be!!!...Please bring back Norma at the ROH!...with Angela!!!!
All the best,
Jules
Delighted to see some people are so sniffy about repeated Traviatas, since this enabled me and my husband to attend our first opera yesterday and we will certainly be back for more. If folk are so jaded that they believe they may kill themselves following such a performance, perhaps they should look elsewhere for their entertainment and free up the seats for those who actually want to go. We thought it was spectacular and will certainly come again. We would not have visited the opera for the first time to see a lesser-known production.
Can anyone tell me if there is a schedule for operas to be shown on screen and where in the United States they can be seen. I am part of a loyal opera group that see all the Metropolitan productions on screen and would love to see some of the ROH Sunday productions on screen. I live in Maryland, USA and have not been able to locate anything nearby. The theatre we go to for the Met is the Regal at Constant Friendship and they asked me to get contact information so they could look into it. Thank you so much for any help you can give me.
Dear Diane,
If you'd like to ask the Regal to email their details to cinema@roh.org.uk then I'd be happy to put them in touch with our international distributors.
Thank you!
Sarah
Hi Diane,
Details of specific venues and territories screening Royal Ballet and Royal Opera productions will be confirmed in due course prior to going on sale next month. Watch this space!
Thanks,
Chris
The whole of the media and most of the UK.is full of brexit and our relationship with the EU. When, in fact THE most important and exciting event of 2016 is Anna Netrebko coming to ROH in September. I can't wait , thankyou ROH.