Equilibrium is key: Düsseldorf's Rhine Opera aims for the future
The Rhine Opera, located in the elegant yet slightly outdated theater on Heine-Allee, has unveiled its captivating lineup for the 2025/2026 season. The upcoming programme promises a diverse mix of premieres, revivals, and crossover events that will captivate opera and ballet enthusiasts alike.
Tickets for the opening concert on September 5 are available at a special price. Vitali Alekseenok, the chief conductor, will present a potpourri of melodies from the upcoming season, offering a tantalising glimpse of what's to come.
The brochure for the new season is now available, and pre-sales have begun. Highlights include the premiere of Boris Godunov, a revival of Der Fliegende Holländer running from January 23 to April 5, 2026, and a premiere of Norma scheduled for February 16, 2026, at Oper Frankfurt.
The Rhine Opera will start the season with a budget of 65 million euros, with personnel costs amounting to 47.4 million. The season includes a mix of opera, ballet, concerts, young opera, and other events spread throughout the year.
One of the most anticipated premieres is Marwin Wendt's production of Donizetti's witty opera buffa Prima la Mamma on October 2. Another notable production is Leoš Janáček's Katja Kabanova on December 7.
A joy for the whole family is the upcoming Pinocchio opera by Marius Schoetz & Marthe Meinhold, starting October 30. Verdi's Il trovatore will be directed by Jens-Daniel Herzog on June 27, 2026.
The ballet scene is not to be outshone, with Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire being brought to life in a ballet by John Neumeier. Bridget Breiner and Raphaël Coumes-Marquet, the new chief choreographer and ballet director of the Rhine Opera, will present the premiere of their choreography of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty on November 15.
A three-part ballet evening titled Organ Passion will be held in spring next year. The season will conclude with a concert performance of Gounod's La Reine de Saba on May 15.
Despite some challenges, the work at the Rhine Opera is characterised by "shaping a humanistic togetherness," as Marwin Wendt puts it. The occupancy rate of the Düsseldorf house, where the Rhine Opera is located, is around 75%, with some hits reaching 90%.
The subscription for the Rhine Opera is not dead, according to the managing director Alexandra Stampler-Brown. The Rhine Opera is currently managed by Marwin Wendt as the acting artistic director and Alexandra Stampler-Brown as the managing director.
The upcoming season promises to be a memorable one, with a diverse range of productions that will appeal to both opera and ballet aficionados. With the Rhine Opera's commitment to humanistic togetherness and the exciting lineup ahead, it's an exciting time for the arts in Düsseldorf.
Tickets for the opening concert on September 5 feature a potpourri of melodies from the upcoming season, offering a tantalising taste of the entertainment that awaits. The diverse mix of premieres, such as Marwin Wendt's production of Donizetti's Prima la Mamma on October 2, and concerts, including Verdi's Il trovatore directed by Jens-Daniel Herzog on June 27, 2026, showcase the Rhine Opera's dedication to music.
