Oper Leipzig 2023/24 – The New Programme

Due to the extensive modernisation of the upper stage machinery and stage management system, the 2023/24 season will begin at the Opera House with a performance in the auditorium of two chamber operas by Peter Maxwell Davies. The first opera premiere on stage will be a fresh-sassy new production of Mozart’s »Magic Flute« on October 28 under the musical direction of Jonathan Darlington, staged by Matthias Davids. Almost 60 years have passed since the last Leipzig production of »Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk« – now this important work by Dmitri Shostakovich returns to Leipzig, directly following a spring premiere of »Rosenkavalier«, both conducted by Music Director Christoph Gedschold. The climate-neutral opera production of »Mary, Queen of Scots« represents a major step towards sustainability. The musical theatre work by the Scottish-American composer Thea Musgrave is a journey into the world of intrigue, scandal and power plays revolving around the young regent Mary Stuart. Ilaria Lanzino directs and Dirk Becker, Equipment Manager and Transformation Manager for Sustainable Culture at Oper Leipzig, designs the stage. Tobias Wolff, Director of Oper Leipzig, is taking the next resolute step towards implementing the new sustainability strategy with this production, which is supported by Fonds Zero of the German Federal Cultural Foundation: »We want to deliver sensuous and compelling music theatre, and we want to do it in a responsible, climate-friendly way. This is an experimental challenge for art and trades alike. «

The Leipzig Ballet also introduces new themes and partners for the 23/24 season. Ballet Director and Chief Choreographer at Oper Leipzig, Mario Schröder, showcases two large-scale new creations with »Giselle« and »Paradise Lost«. Choreographer Cayetano Soto returns to Augustusplatz with the full-length ballet »Peter I. Tchaikovsky«. Musical excellence is invariably guaranteed, as the ballet and opera in the opera house are performed by the Gewandhausorchester. The Leipzig vocal ensemble Sjaella will also be featured in the music of »Giselle«.

At the Musikalische Komödie, »Hans Sachs«, directed by Rahel Thiel and conducted by Tobias Engeli, expands the Lortzing repertoire starting April 11, 2024, and fuels anticipation of the 2026 Lortzing Festival in the City of Music Leipzig. A new production of the operetta of operettas, »Die Fledermaus«, tops off the 23/24 programme at the unique specialised venue for musicals and operettas in Leipzig’s Lindenau district. Musical fans can look forward to »The Producers«, Mel Brooks‘ wryly wicked satire of the theatre business, directed by Dominik Wilgenbus. A major season project will also celebrate its premiere in 2024: at the Musikalische Komödie, the Children’s and Youth Choir of the Oper Leipzig will perform »Peter Pan«, the musical based on the well-known play by J. M. Barrie. Tobias Wolff: »Just as with Future Now and the Stadtteiloper (District Opera), we want to give children not just a stage, but the big stage. Musical theatre by young people for young people is an important part of our programme.«

This is especially true for »360°«, the education and young opera department. There is plenty to explore in the way of discussions, exhibitions and pedagogical music theatre programmes for audiences of all ages; the popular guest performance formats on tour »Adna ist neu« (Adna is new) and »Hänsel und Gretel mobil« (Hansel and Gretel on the road) for schools also remain in the programme. Inclusive events such as live audio descriptions with a hands-on parcours experience and loud shows are a fixed part of the programme, as are the theatre clubs for various generations.

Advance sales for the 2023/24 opera season begin on June 1, 2023. Subscribers have the exclusive opportunity to book tickets as of now. Ticket requests can be made online at oper-leipzig.de or via Oper Leipzig’s Visitor Service Tue – Fri from 10 am to 6 pm, Sat from 12 pm to 6 pm, at both the box office in the Opera House and by telephone on + 49 (0)341-12 61 261.