Royal Ballet and Opera: New Name, Ambitious 2024-25 Season – Premiere of Turnage's Festen Opera, New Productions, and Conductors
The Royal Ballet and Opera have announced an ambitious new season for 2024-25, which includes eight new productions, a world premiere, and a European premiere.
The world premiere will be Mark-Anthony Turnage's opera "Festen," based on Thomas Vinterberg's cult film, with a libretto by Lee Hall, direction by Richard Jones, and conduction by Edward Gardner.
The cast includes Allan Clayton, Eva-Maria Westbroek, and Gerald Finley.
Additionally, Wayne McGregor's ballet "MaddAddam" based on Margaret Atwood's novel will have its European premiere.
The organization will also undergo a name change to the Royal Ballet and Opera.
Several new opera productions are coming to Covent Garden.
Ted Huffman is making his main stage debut with Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.
Damiano Michieletto is directing Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman in a co-production.
A Leonard Bernstein double bill featuring Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place will also be staged.
Barrie Kosky's Ring Cycle continues with Die Walküre, conducted by Antonio Pappano, with Christopher Maltman as Wotan, Lise Davidsen as Siegline, and Elisabet Strid as Brünnhilde.
Pappano's tenure as music director of the English National Opera (ENO) ends in the current 2022/23 season.
Jakub Hrůša will take over as music director in September 2025.
In the meantime, Hrůša will conduct a revival of Guth's Olivier-winning production of Jenůfa during the upcoming season.
Speranza Scappucci, designated principal guest conductor, will lead her first main stage production, which is Richard Jones's La Bohème.
Additionally, the Puccini anniversary is celebrated with revivals of Jonathan Kent's Tosca, conducted by Eun Sun Kim.