Opera at Covent Garden 2023/24: Royal Opera season in full
A. new Ring Cycle begins in Sir Antonio Pappano's final year as music director, and favourite operas return alongside other new productions
The Royal Opera House has launched its 2023/24 season. Photo: Luke Hayes
A spectacular new production of Wagner's Das Rheingold with emphasis on its family drama is one of three new productions on the main stage of Covent Garden, the Royal Opera has announced.
As the opening production in a new Ring Cycle which will span four years, Barrie Kosky's vivid new interpretation (11-29 Sept) will feature British singers bass Christopher Maltman as Wotan and Christopher Purves as malevolent Alberich.
The exciting mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, recently brilliant inThe Barber of Seville, takes the title role in a new production of Bizet's Carmen from the Italian director Damiano Michieletto. Michieletto's award-winning Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci returns later in the year (20 Nov to 15 Dec).
Continuing a theme of restaging at Covent Garden operas that Handel wrote for the site, a new production of the German-born, London-based composer's moving opera Jephtha will feature the much loved British artists Jennifer France, Alice Coote and Brindley Sherratt (8-24 Nov).
Also new for 2023/24 is a new production by Christof Loy of Richard Strauss's Elektra. Sir Antonio Pappano conducts, bringing his time at Covent Garden full circle: the first new production he conducted as music director at the Royal Opera 22 years ago was a Strauss opera. A fine cast includes Nina Stemme and Karina Mattila (12-30 Jan 2024).
In the Linbury Theatre, an exciting new collaboration between composer George Benjamin and writer Martin Crimp is entitled Picture a day like this (22 Sept to 10 Oct). This great partnership is the team behind earlier Covent Garden hits, including Lessons in Love and Violence and Written on Skin.
The 13 revivals include Verdi's La Forza del Destino (19 Sept to 8 Oct) with Sondra Radvanovsky and Brian Jagde, Donizetti's comedy L'Elisir d'Amore (22 Sept to 5 Oct) and Verdi's Rigoletto, in the production by Oliver Mears (12 Oct to 28 Nov).
For families, Wolf Witch Giant Fairy returns to the Linbury (11 Dec to 6 Jan) and Hansel and Gretel to the main stage (16 Dec to 7 Jan).
Richard Jones's production of Puccini's La Bohème returns in the new year (24 Jan to 16 Feb) with Angela Gheorghiu among the artists singling Mimì (24 Jan to 16 Feb). Jonathan Kent's timeless, classic production of Puccini's Tosca follows (5-24 Feb; 1-21 July).
There is more Wagner, with the return on Tim Albery's fine production of The Flying Dutchman. Sir Bryn Terfel sings the title role (29 Feb to 16 March)
In a bumper season for Puccini-lovers, Madama Butterfly returns (14 March to 15 April; 12-18 July). And there is more Italian passion in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor (19 April to 18 May) and Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chenier (30 May to 11 June).
Mozart closes the year, with Così Fan Tutte (26 June to 9 July). Lots to look forward to, in short. But the Antonio Pappano Farewell Gala Concert – put 16 May in your diary now! – will be a bittersweet occasion. Fortunately, he is only going down the road to the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican. So not goodbye, Maestro, but arrivederci.
Operas are sung in the original language, apart from Hansel and Gretel, which is sung in a new English translation. Booking for the autumn season opens on Wed 2 Aug. Click here for more details
As the opening production in a new Ring Cycle which will span four years, Barrie Kosky's vivid new interpretation (11-29 Sept) will feature British singers bass Christopher Maltman as Wotan and Christopher Purves as malevolent Alberich.
The exciting mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, recently brilliant inThe Barber of Seville, takes the title role in a new production of Bizet's Carmen from the Italian director Damiano Michieletto. Michieletto's award-winning Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci returns later in the year (20 Nov to 15 Dec).
Continuing a theme of restaging at Covent Garden operas that Handel wrote for the site, a new production of the German-born, London-based composer's moving opera Jephtha will feature the much loved British artists Jennifer France, Alice Coote and Brindley Sherratt (8-24 Nov).
Also new for 2023/24 is a new production by Christof Loy of Richard Strauss's Elektra. Sir Antonio Pappano conducts, bringing his time at Covent Garden full circle: the first new production he conducted as music director at the Royal Opera 22 years ago was a Strauss opera. A fine cast includes Nina Stemme and Karina Mattila (12-30 Jan 2024).
In the Linbury Theatre, an exciting new collaboration between composer George Benjamin and writer Martin Crimp is entitled Picture a day like this (22 Sept to 10 Oct). This great partnership is the team behind earlier Covent Garden hits, including Lessons in Love and Violence and Written on Skin.
The 13 revivals include Verdi's La Forza del Destino (19 Sept to 8 Oct) with Sondra Radvanovsky and Brian Jagde, Donizetti's comedy L'Elisir d'Amore (22 Sept to 5 Oct) and Verdi's Rigoletto, in the production by Oliver Mears (12 Oct to 28 Nov).
For families, Wolf Witch Giant Fairy returns to the Linbury (11 Dec to 6 Jan) and Hansel and Gretel to the main stage (16 Dec to 7 Jan).
Richard Jones's production of Puccini's La Bohème returns in the new year (24 Jan to 16 Feb) with Angela Gheorghiu among the artists singling Mimì (24 Jan to 16 Feb). Jonathan Kent's timeless, classic production of Puccini's Tosca follows (5-24 Feb; 1-21 July).
There is more Wagner, with the return on Tim Albery's fine production of The Flying Dutchman. Sir Bryn Terfel sings the title role (29 Feb to 16 March)
In a bumper season for Puccini-lovers, Madama Butterfly returns (14 March to 15 April; 12-18 July). And there is more Italian passion in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor (19 April to 18 May) and Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chenier (30 May to 11 June).
Mozart closes the year, with Così Fan Tutte (26 June to 9 July). Lots to look forward to, in short. But the Antonio Pappano Farewell Gala Concert – put 16 May in your diary now! – will be a bittersweet occasion. Fortunately, he is only going down the road to the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican. So not goodbye, Maestro, but arrivederci.
Operas are sung in the original language, apart from Hansel and Gretel, which is sung in a new English translation. Booking for the autumn season opens on Wed 2 Aug. Click here for more details
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| What | Opera at Covent Garden 2023/24: Royal Opera season in full |
| Where | Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Covent Garden (underground) |
| When |
11 Sep 23 – 09 Jul 24, Five new productions and revivals in both main stage and Linbury Theatre |
| Price | £TBC |
| Website | Click here for details and booking |