The Royal Opera House has unveiled its 2025–26 season, marking a new artistic era under the baton of incoming Music Director Jakub Hrůša and Principal Guest Conductor Speranza Scappucci. The program offers a broad spectrum of classics and new works, balancing tradition with bold innovation.
Hrůša opens the season with a new staging of Tosca, in a production that not only kicks off the year but also marks the return of Anna Netrebko to Covent Garden after a six-year absence.
Anna Netrebko returns to Covent Garden for the first time in six years, appearing in Tosca, Turandot, and a solo recital. The soprano, who last sang at the Royal Opera in 2019, was initially scheduled to return in 2020, but those performances were cancelled due to the pandemic. However, she did not appear at Covent Garden again in the following seasons, after facing widespread criticism for her perceived support of Vladimir Putin. In March 2022, Netrebko publicly condemned the war in Ukraine and stated she was not allied with any political leader. While some have questioned the sincerity of her remarks, her distancing led to backlash in Russia and the cancellation of performances there. Her re-engagement at ROH comes after collaborations with the company’s leadership abroad and is likely to renew debate across the opera world.
Jakub Hrůša defended the decision to cast her, saying: “The ROH should be connected to the best singers, and she belongs to their number.”
But Hrůša’s ambitions go far beyond high-profile returns. He will lead the Royal Opera’s first-ever staging of The Makropulos Case by Leoš Janáček, in a contemporary production by Katie Mitchell, and conduct the revival of Deborah Warner’s acclaimed Peter Grimes. He also nods to his Czech heritage in a concert featuring music by Bartók and Dvořák.
Among the eight new productions, Barrie Kosky continues the Royal Opera’s Ring cycle with Siegfried, conducted by Antonio Pappano. Richard Jones returns with a new take on I puritani, and the ongoing Handel series includes Ariodante (directed by Jetske Mijnssen) and Giustino (directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins).
The season also introduces a groundbreaking initiative: RBO/Shift, a four-day festival in the Linbury Theatre dedicated to the intersection of opera and artificial intelligence. Curated by Netia Jones, the event will include talks, performances and interactive installations exploring AI’s impact on creativity and live performance. “Only the arrival of electricity might equal its profound potential effect on theatre,” Jones remarked.
The Linbury Theatre will also host a chilling new production of The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, conducted by Bassem Akiki, and the return of Last Days, the acclaimed opera by Oliver Leith and Matt Copson inspired by the final days of Kurt Cobain. The Jette Parker Artists present three works by female composers: The Departure by Elizabeth Maconchy, Making Arrangements by Charlotte Bray, and Four Sisters by Elena Langer.
Among the season’s revivals are Verdi’s Rigoletto, La traviata, and The Sicilian Vespers, Puccini’s Turandot and La bohème, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute, and Mussorgsky’s monumental Boris Godunov.
A special gala evening in May will unite the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet, and the season will conclude with La fille du régiment, conducted by Yves Abel and starring Sara Blanch, Juan Diego Flórez, and Jonah Hoskins.
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