The Deutsche Oper Berlin has announced its 2026/27 season, the first under its new Intendant Aviel Cahn, outlining a programme that combines canonical repertoire with contemporary works and introduces a new cross-disciplinary strand designed to reshape the institution’s artistic identity.
Alongside seven main stage premieres, the season is framed by the launch of Unlimited, a new programme line that expands the company’s activity beyond traditional operatic formats and venues. The season carries the motto “Make Love…”, presented as an open-ended reference to contemporary challenges and the role of opera as a space for collective experience.
Stockhausen, Wagner, and a new world premiere
The season opens on the main stage with the German premiere of Mittwoch aus Licht by Karlheinz Stockhausen on 19 September. Conducted by Maxime Pascal and realised in collaboration with his ensemble Le Balcon, the production will be directed by Susanne Kennedy, marking one of the most ambitious undertakings of the season.
A new staging of Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer follows on 24 October, directed by Milo Rau in his first encounter with Wagner’s work, and conducted by Giedrė Šlekytė. The cast includes Tomasz Konieczny in the title role and Aušrine Stundytė as Senta.
Contemporary creation is represented by the world premiere of Good Vibes Only on 22 January 2027, a new work by Icelandic composer Bára Gísladóttir. The production, conducted by Titus Engel and directed by Joris Lacoste, engages with themes of social media culture. Gísladóttir will also appear as Composer in Residence throughout the season.
Mozart, Verdi, and Britten on the main stage
Mozart’s Così fan tutte returns in a new production on 28 February 2027 by the Belgian theatre collective FC Bergman, conducted by Riccardo Minasi, with Elsa Dreisig leading the cast as Fiordiligi.
Verdi’s Otello will premiere on 16 April 2027 in a staging by Kornél Mundruczó, conducted by Stefano Montanari, with Najmiddin Mavlyanov in the title role.
The final premiere of the season, on 18 June 2027, is Britten’s War Requiem, directed by Daniel Kramer and conducted by Donald Runnicles. The cast includes Elena Tsallagova, Nicky Spence, and Björn Bürger.
The programme also includes a revival of Jonathan Dove’s Around the World in 80 Days from 15 November, directed by Peter Lund.
‘Unlimited’: a new programme line
At the centre of the season is the launch of Unlimited, conceived as a platform for music theatre beyond conventional boundaries. Structured around several series—including Cantadoras, Nachtmusiken, Late Nights, and the Unlimited Salon—the initiative brings together artists from different disciplines and opens new performance spaces within and beyond the opera house.
The opening weekend on 29–30 August will be curated by visual artist Rirkrit Tiravanija, featuring installations, performances, and continuous activity across the building.
Among the projects presented within Unlimited are Sunville, a new work by writer Fiston Mwanza Mujila with music by Sofia Jernberg, and Music of Changes, a programme dedicated to John Cage, developed with the Zafraan Ensemble. Performances are also planned in venues across Berlin, including Berghain and the Gedächtniskirche.
A redefined institutional identity
The 2026/27 season positions the Deutsche Oper Berlin as a space that seeks to combine large-scale repertoire with contemporary creation and interdisciplinary experimentation. Alongside the seven main stage premieres, the introduction of Unlimited signals a shift towards a broader conception of music theatre, extending the company’s presence into new artistic and social contexts.
With this first programme, Aviel Cahn sets out a direction that places equal emphasis on tradition and transformation, while aiming to engage new audiences through expanded formats and collaborations.
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This article was produced by the Moto Perpetuo editorial team.
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