He left an indelible mark on the world of opera with his remarkable productions, which have been performed across the global opera stage. The Met Opera in New York fondly remembers his grand Wagner productions, just as the Wiener Staatsoper continues to preserve his legacy.

This season, in addition to the recordings made freely available on the Austrian opera’s website, audiences can experience his stagings of Fidelio by Beethoven in February 2025 (featuring Michael Spyres and Bryn Terfel), L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti in March (with Nadine Sierra and Xabier Anduaga), Andrea Chénier by Giordano in April (starring Michael Fabiano, Sonya Yoncheva, and Luca Salsi), and finally, arguably his greatest masterpiece, Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss in June (with Lise Davidsen, Emily D’Angelo, and Sabine Devieilhe). Another iconic production, J. Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus, has returned annually every December since 1979.

To see Otto Schenk’s productions at the Wierner Staatsoper, click here!

Der Rosenkavalier – c – Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Poehn

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The 2024-2025 season at the TCE encapsulates Michel Franck’s artistic choices. He has always been adept at presenting a wide range of repertoires, with perhaps a slight preference for baroque music. Opera enthusiasts are especially spoiled this season with offerings like Handel‘s magnificent masterpiece, Semele, featuring the beloved soprano Pretty Yende. This new production by Olivier Mears, directed by Emmanuelle Haïm, promises to be a highlight. France’s premier tenor, the dynamic Benjamin Bernheim, will perform his first Parisian Werther, staged by Christof Loy, alongside the impressive mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti. Viotti also stars in another major production, Der Rosenkavalier, an eagerly anticipated event with Marlis Petersen and Regula Mühlemann.

A noteworthy event is the revival of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, directed by Olivier Py. Patricia Petibon, who previously moved audiences as Blanche de la Force, now takes on the role of Mère Marie, symbolizing the continuity and transmission of operatic history. The season also features acclaimed soprano Anna Netrebko, and eagerly anticipated recitals by Philippe Jaroussky, Pretty Yende, and Jakub Józef Orliński.

Concert versions of operatic works will undoubtedly generate the most excitement. Highlights include Julien Chauvin’s presentation of Handel‘s La Resurrezione and Jephtha with an outstanding cast including Michael Spyres, Joyce DiDonato, Mélissa Petit, and Francesco Corti. A rare performance of Handel’s oratorio Deborah will be conducted by Ton Koopman. Mozart’s works are also prominent, with the Da Ponte trilogy entrusted to Alexis Kossenko (Don Giovanni), Giovanni Antonini (Le nozze di Figaro), and Marc Minkowski (Così fan tutte). Another beautiful Mozart opera in concert form, Mitridate, re di Ponto, will be conducted by Christophe Rousset. Notable performances include a Requiem featuring Lisette Oropesa, Eve-Maud Hubeaux, Cyrille Dubois, and Nahuel di Pierro.

Among the season’s highlights are Weber‘s romantic opera Freischütz, conducted by Antonello Manacorda with Charles Castronovo and Golda Schultz, and Rossini‘s Le Comte Ory with Cyrille Dubois. Elsa Dreisig will star as a divine Alcina in Handel’s opera, alongside Emily D’Angelo, Sandrine Piau, and Alex Rosen. Andrea Chénier by Giordano will feature the stellar voices of Riccardo Massi, Anna Pirozzi, Enkhbat Amartuvshin, and Sophie Pondjiclis. Audiences can also look forward to Marie-Nicole Lemieux in Rossini‘s L’Italiana in Algeri and Sabine Devieilhe in both Mozart and Boulez, celebrating his centennial.

The dance segment is equally unmissable, with performances by prominent choreographers such as Akram Khan, Carolyn Carlson, Mats Ek, and Sharon Eyal, along with an emotional holiday appearance by the National Opera Ballet of Ukraine. The season will be filled with major concerts and events. Martha Argerich opens the season with Lahav Shani and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Renowned pianists like Elisabeth Leonskaja, Evgeny Kissin, Grigory Sokolov, Mikhail Pletnev, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Nikolai Lugansky, Nelson Goerner, David Fray, Adam Laloum, Benjamin Grosvenor, and a new generation of stars including Jonathan Fournel, Bruce Liu, Dmitry Masleev, Jan Lisiecki, and the Jussen brothers will grace the stage. Other notable soloists include Gidon Kremer, Tabea Zimmermann, Thibault Cauvin with the pop artist and guitarist -M-, Sol Gabetta, Gautier Capuçon, Emmanuel Pahud, Nemanja Radulovic with his Ensemble Double Sens, and Edgar Moreau performing Bach. The loyalty of great conductors like Zubin Mehta, Daniele Gatti, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra underscores the exceptional nature of the 2024-2025 season, making it a must-see. Reservations are now open for all the events of this extraordinary season!

Get your tickets now for the new 2024-2025 season at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

© Hartl Meyer

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Gaëlle Arquez © Ugo Ponte

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