Discover the 2016-2017 season!
One of the finest opera and dance houses in the world, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London still retains an extraordinary reputation for excellence through its flawless programming. Taking a closer look, besides the perfect balance between dance and opera, it probably is the alchemy between tradition and modernity that seems to explain the uninterrupted success of the first English hall.
In dance, the classics are maintained at the highest level with choreographers of the caliber of Frederick Ashton and of Kenneth MacMillan. With titles like La Fille mal gardée, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty a beautiful classical tradition is maintained and even reinvented with ballets such as Mayerling. The big stars of the troupe are also motivated by other great choreographers of universes as diverse as William Forsythe and George Balanchine. but also by new talent including Wayne McGregor, one of the greatest choreographers of the new generation.
On the Opera side, the Royal Opera House has always bet on refined and rarely outrageous stagings, despite one or two recent experiences. The place left to creation is always striking and this season, two contemporary works of major composers who are on view, Written on Skin by George Benjamin and a creation by Thomas Adès without failing to mention the new production of The Nose by Shostakovich. But the excellence of course lays in the artistic choices not only for the repertoire but also of great performers who highlight an already bright season. A great festival of voices in major roles. Roberto Alagna sings three times (Trovatore, Elisir d’amore and Turandot), Sonya Yoncheva, two (Norma and Tales of Hoffmann). Ermonela Jaho sings Cio-Cio-San, Renée Fleming’s her last Marschallin, Angela Gheorghiu again as Adriana Lecouvreur and Sondra Radvanovsky, Puccini’s beautiful Manon Lescaut. Michael Spyres embodies Mitridate, Bryn Terfel the role of Hans Sachs and Vittorio Grigolo, Hoffmann. So many reasons to rejoice but the big event of the season remains Verdi’s Otello with the huge star Jonas Kaufmann.
The seats may be very sought after, but even for the entire season, we advise to reserve your tickets at the earliest.
