Introduction. There are over 25,000 opera performances each year. Many of them are what Francesca Zambello has called the ABCs — the Aidas, Bohèmes and Carmens — the popular staples that provide many opera companies with bread and butter income.
The annotated new and rare opera list is aimed at connecting people with more unusual fare.
Some of these pieces are well-known (but infrequently performed), others are more obscure. All of them have had fewer than 30 performance runs in the last three years (compared with around 300 for each of the ABC operas).
The listing includes ... a woman transformed into a tree (John Adams), a man transformed into a sofa (Elizabeth Maconchy) ... the first western-style operas from Australia (Isaac Nathan, 1847), from Japan (Yamada Kosaku, 1940), and from western Africa (Zé Manel, 2007). Jake Heggie is not the only one with a Dead Man Walking, he is joined by Marschner's Vampyr, and Cristobal Halffter's Lazarus.
Fifty new works are receiving their world premieres, but the season also includes the first public stagings of works composed in 1820 (Felix Mendelssohn), in 1908-9 (Karol Szymanowski), and in 1939-43 (Walter Braunfels)
Enjoy!
Mike Gibb
Muriel Denzler
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Adamo, Mark (*1962)
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Little Women [*] 4-10 May; Wilmington, OperaDelaware [*] 9-11 May; Orlando Opera
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Adams, John (*1947)
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[>] www.earbox.com
Doctor Atomic Opera in 2 acts (San Francisco, 2005); Doctor Atomic looks at the key characters in the final hours leading up to the first atomic bomb test; Libretto: Peter Sellars, after original sources [*] 14 Dec-19 Jan; Lyric Opera of Chicago
A Flowering Tree Opera in 2 acts (Wien, 2006); A tale of magical transformations, treachery and true love triumphant; Libretto: John Adams and Peter Sellars, after ancient Indian folktale [*] 9+ Feb; Theater der Stadt Heidelberg [*] 14-25 May; Chicago Opera Theater [*] 24 May; Amsterdam, Het Concertgebouw
Nixon in China Opera in 3 acts (Houston, 1987); Libretto: Alice Goodman [*] 7-15 Jun; Denver, Opera Colorado
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Adès, Thomas (*1971)
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Powder her face Chamber opera in 2 acts and 8 scenes (Cheltenham, 1995); Text: Philip Hensher, after the life of the Duchess of Argyle [*] 27 Oct; St Petersburg, Mariinski Theatre Concert Hall Russian premiere [*] 9+ May; Theater Bremen [*] 9-21 Jun; London, Linbury Studio Theatre
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Albarn, Damon (*1968)
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Monkey Journey to the West Opera in 9 scenes. Lyrics: David Greenspan [*] 26 Sep-13 Oct; Paris, Théâtre du Châtelet
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Albinoni, Tomaso (1671-1751)
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Pimpinone Three comic intermezzos (Venice, 1708); One of the earliest contests between a wily servant girl and a rich bachelor [*] 21-23 Sep; Spoleto, Teatro Lirico Sperimentale
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Aldridge, Robert (*1954)
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Elmer Gantry Libretto: Herschel Garfein, after the novel by Sinclair Lewis [*] (WP) 16-20 Nov; Nashville Opera
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Alfano, Franco (1875-1954)
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Cyrano de Bergerac (Rome, 1936) [*] 12 Sep-18 Dec; Ostrava, National Moravian-Silesian Theatre [*] 29 Jan-15 Feb; Milano, Teatro alla Scala [*] 21-27 Apr; Opéra de Monte-Carlo [*] 5 Jul; Karlsruhe, Badisches Staatstheater
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Amargós, Joan Albert (*1950)
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[>] www.accompositors.com
El saló d'Anubis Chamber opera in one act; Libretto: Toni Rumbau [*] 18-20 Oct; Staatstheater Darmstadt [*] 24-28 Oct; Barcelona, Festival d'òpera de butxaca i Noves Creacions
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Andriessen, Louis (*1939)
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La Commedia Filmopera in five parts, after Dante, in collaboration with film-maker Hal Hartley [*] (WP) 12-18 Jun; Amsterdam, De Nederlandse Opera
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Aperghis, Georges (*1945)
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Avis de Tempête [*] 27-28 Nov; Bruxelles, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie
Zeugen Opera with puppets and live video, based on texts by Robert Walser, and with recreations of Paul Klee hand puppets [*] (WP) 21-22 Sep; Stadttheater Bern [*] 6 Oct; La Biennale di Venezia
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Arnecke, Jörn (*1973)
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[>] www.arnecke.de
Unter Eis Musiktheater on the ideology of big business, and the unthinking effects that consultants can have on the lives of the people around them [*] (WP) 28 Sep-6 Oct; Ruhr Triennale [*] 2-8 Jun; Oper Frankfurt
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Auber, Daniel-Francois-Esprit (1782-1871)
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Fra Diavolo [*] 10+ May; München, Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz [*] 11 May; Annaberg, Winterstein Theater
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Bacalov, Luis
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Estaba la Madre [*] 21 Oct-4 Nov; La Plata, Teatro Argentino
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Balada, Lleonard (*1933)
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Hangman, Hangman! and The Town of Greed [*] 21-29 Sep; Madrid, Teatro de La Zarzuela [*] 15-18 Nov; Barcelona, Gran Teatre del Liceu
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Banchieri, Adriano (1568-1634)
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La barca di Venezia per Padova Madrigal comedy (1605) [*] 15-16 Sep; Enschede, Nationale Reisopera
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Barber, Samuel (1910-1981)
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Vanessa [*] 26 Oct-24 Feb; Bühnen der Stadt Gera [*] 4-17 Nov; New York City Opera
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Barry, Gerald (*1952)
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[>] OUP
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (London, 2005); Text by Fassbinder [*] 4 May-11 Jun; Theater Basel
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Battistelli, Giorgio (*1953)
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Fashion A black comedy 'in a very British style' about the fashion industry. The new star of the catwalk is not all that he seems... [*] (WP) 26+ Jan; Dusseldorf, Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Miracolo a Milano Loosely based on the films "Totò il buono" by Zavattini and "Miracolo a Milano" by De Sica; Commissioned for the 150th anniversary of the Teatro Valli [*] (WP) 6-8 Nov; Reggio Emilia, Teatro Municipale Valli
Prova d'Orchestra [*] 8 Sep-18 Dec; Stadttheater Bern
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Bauckholt, Carola (*1959)
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Die Macht der Geräusche 'The Power of Noises' [*] (WP) 21 Apr; Münchener Biennale
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Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
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Leonore [*] (concert) 13-16 Oct; Madrid, Teatro Real
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Bellini, Vincenzo (1801-1835)
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I puritani [*] 15-27 Sep; Wiener Staatsoper [*] (concert) 23 Sep; Washington Concert Opera [*] 3-17 May; Seattle Opera [*] 1-11 Jun; München, Bayerische Staatsoper
La straniera Opera in 2 acts [*] (concert) 3 Nov; London, South Bank Centre
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Benda, Georg (1722-1795)
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Romeo and Juliet Singspiel (1776) [*] 13 Sep; London, St Johns Smith Square
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Benjamin, Arthur (1893-1960)
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The Prima Donna Comedy in one act (composed 1933) [*] 12,13 Oct; Sydney Conservatorium
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Benjamin, George (*1960)
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[>] www.fabermusic.com
Into the Little Hill Chamber opera, 40' (Paris, Festival d'Automne, 2006); An updated, dark retelling of the traditional tale of the Pied Piper; Libretto: Martin Crimp [*] 9-11 Nov; Oper Frankfurt [*] 17,18 Apr; Liverpool [*] 4,5 Jun? Wiener Festwochen [*] 23,24 Aug? Lucerne Festival
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Bennett, Richard Rodney (*1936)
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All the King's Men Opera for and by children, after Humpty Dumpty tale [*] 24-27 Jan; Opera Omaha
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Berger, Michel (1947-1992)
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Starmania Opéra Operatic version of the first French language rock opera (1977); Book: Luc Plamondon [*] 17-26 May; Opera de Québec
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Berkeley, Michael
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For You Chamber opera; Libretto: Iain McEwen [*] 31+ May; Music Theatre Wales
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Berio, Luciano (1925-2003)
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Un re in ascolto [*] 2+ Feb; Städtische Bühnen Münster
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Berlioz, Hector (1803-1869)
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Les troyens [*] 13 Sep-1 Oct; Genève, Grand Théâtre [*] 16-30 Sep; Deutsche Oper am Rhein [*] 26 Oct-25 Nov; Staatstheater Stuttgart
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Bernstein, Leonard (1918-1990)
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Trouble in Tahiti [*] 15+ Apr; Trieste, Teatro Verdi
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Bibalo, Antonio (*1922)
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Fräulein Julie Chamber opera, 75' (1975) after August Strindberg [*] 20-30 Oct; Staatsoper Hamburg
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Birtwistle, Harrison (*1934)
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The Minotaur Opera in 13 scenes. Birtwistle returns to favourite themes of labyrinths and timeless myths, with the story being told from the points of view of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur; Libretto: David Harsent [*] (WP) 15 Apr-3 May; London, Royal Opera
Punch and Judy `Tragicomedy or comitragedy' in 1 act. (Aldeburgh, 1968); The ritualised violence of Punch and Judy seen through the stylised prism of opera. Libretto by Stephen Pruslin [*] 19-27 Apr; London, English National Opera (ENO)
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Blitzstein, Marc (1905-1964)
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Regina [*] 17-26 Apr; Pacific Opera Victoria Canadian premiere
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Boesmans, Philippe (*1936)
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Julie Chamber opera in 1 act (La Monnaie, 2005); A love triangle of passion, class and greed; Librettist: Luc Bondy, after the play "Miss Julie" by August Strindberg; Music Theatre Wales [*] 2-3 Nov; London, Linbury Studio Theatre [*] 6 Nov; Sheffield, Lyceum [*] 22 Nov; Durham, Gala Theatre [*] 2 Dec; Cardiff, New Theatre [*] 8 Dec; Birmingham, CBSO Centre
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Boieldieu, Adrien (1775-1834)
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Ma tante Aurore Opéra-Comique (2 acts, Paris Salle Feydeau, 1803) [*] 23 Mar; Compiegne, Théâtre Imperial
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Boito, Arrigo (1842-1918)
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Mefistofele [*] 31+ Oct; Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern [*] 4-15 Jul; Savonlinna Opera Festival
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Bolcom, William (*1938)
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A View from the Bridge [*] 3-17 Nov; Washington National Opera
A Wedding Libretto: Arnold Weinstein, after the film by Robert Altman; Premiere: Lyric Opera of Chicago (December 2004) [*] 1-9 Feb; Bloomington, Indiana University Opera
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Braunfels, Walter (1882-1954)
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Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna (composed 1939-43) Scenes from the life of Joan of Arc, after the documents of her trial [*] (WP) 27 Apr-31 May; Deutsche Oper Berlin
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Bredemeyer, Reiner (1929-1995)
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[>] www.reiner-bredemeyer.de
Der Neinsager School opera, after Brecht (1990) [*] 18-20 Jan; Opéra de Rouen [*] 12-15 Mar; Opéra National de Lyon
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Britten, Benjamin (1913-1976)
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Albert Herring [*] 20-26 Oct; Glyndebourne Festival Opera [*] 14-30 Mar; Portland OR, Portland Opera
Curlew River Church parable [*] 6-15 Mar; Opéra National de Lyon
Death in Venice [*] 13-30 May; Barcelona, Gran Teatre del Liceu
Paul Bunyan [*] 16+ Mar; Luzerner Theater
Peter Grimes [*] 20 Sep-18 Dec; Hannover, Niedersächsische Staatstheater [*] 17-25 Jan; Leeds, Opera North [*] 28 Feb-24 Mar; New York, The Metropolitan Opera [*] 15 Mar; Wuppertaler Bühnen
The Prodigal Son [*] 3+ Oct; Landestheater Detmold
The Rape of Lucretia [*] 13-17 Nov; Madrid, Teatro Real [*] 16-30 Mar; Oper Frankfurt [*] 31 May; Oldenburgische Staatstheater
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Brown, Jason Robert (*1970)
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[>] www.jasonrobertbrown.com
[>] Wikipedia page
The Last Five Years An account of a failed relationship told from two interleaved perspectives: his forwards in time, and hers backwards; A contemporary song-cycle chamber musical (Off-Broadway, 2002) [*] 22 Nov-20 Dec; Wiener Kammeroper [*] 22 Feb; Landestheater Coburg [*] 17-25 Apr; Fuerth, Stadttheater Fürth
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Buckinx, Boudewijn (*1945)
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[>] www.boudewijnbuckinx.com
Cusanus [*] 24+ Nov; Theater Trier
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Busoni, Ferruccio (1866-1924)
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Arlecchino [*] 10 Nov-8 Mar; Theater Goerlitz
Doktor Faust [*] 4-10 May; Berlin, Staatsoper Unter den Linden [*] 28 Jun-7 Jul; München, Münchner Opern-Festspiele
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Cage, John
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Europeras Europeras 3 & 4 [*] 10+ May; Ulmer Theater
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Calix, Mira
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Dead Wedding Contemporary retelling of Orpheus myth for puppets, film and laptop [*] 10 Oct, Nottingham Lakeside [*] 21 Nov; Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival [*] 1 Dec; Sage Gateshead
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Carlson, David
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The Midnight Angel New orchestration; A bored English lady decides to throw the ultimate ball, and invites Death himself [*] 21 Sep-7 Oct; Milwaukee, Skylight Opera Theatre
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Catán, Daniel
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Florencia en el Amazonas [*] 10,12 Jul; Cincinnati Opera
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Cavalli, Francesco (1602-1676)
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Calisto [*] 2-7 Nov; München, Bayerische Staatsoper [*] 3-13 Jul; Staatsoper Hamburg
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Chabrier, Emmanuel (1841-1894)
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L'étoile [*] 13-23 Dec; Paris, Opéra-Comique [*] 22-25 Jan; Luxembourg, Grand Théâtre de la Ville
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Charles, Agustí (*1960)
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[>] agustincharles.com
[>] www.accompositors.com
La Cuzzoni Chamber opera in 1 act; Libretto: Marc Rosich [*] 12-19 Oct; Staatstheater Darmstadt [*] 9-10 Nov; Barcelona, Festival d'òpera de butxaca i Noves Creacions
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Charpentier, Gustave (1860-1956)
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Louise [*] 20 Jun-12 Jul; L'Opéra National de Paris
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Cherubini, Luigi (1760-1842)
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Il giocatore Intermezzo (Firenze, 1775) [*] 19-27 Oct; Liège, Opéra Royal de Wallonie
Medea [*] 8 Sep; Enschede, Nationale Reisopera [*] 21-31 Oct; Palermo, Teatro Massimo [*] 6-20 Mar; Theater an der Wien [*] 12 Apr-2 May; Bruxelles, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie [*] 31 May-21 Jun; Stadttheater Bern
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Chin, Unsuk (*1961)
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Alice in Wonderland Opera in 1 act, 120' (Bayerische SO, 2007); Libretto: David Henry Hwang and Unsuk Chin, after Lewis Carroll [*] 15-23 Nov; München, Bayerische Staatsoper
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Cimarosa, Domenico (1749-1801)
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Il maestro di cappella Intermezzo (Berlin, 1793) [*] 19-27 Oct; Liège, Opéra Royal de Wallonie
Il matrimonio segreto [*] 1-9 Feb; Liège, Opéra Royal de Wallonie
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Copland, Aaron (1900-1990)
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The Tender Land Opera in 3 acts (1954, revised 1955); Coming of age in the mid-west of 1930s America; Libretto: Horace Everett [*] 27 Feb-2 Mar; Madison Opera
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Cosma, Vladimir (*1940)
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Marius et Fanny Opera in 2 acts, after the first two books/ films of Marcel Pagnol's Marseille trilogy; Marius is torn between two loves: for Fanny and for the sea. Fanny encourages him to leave and then finds herself pregnant. To save the family honour, she marries a rich bachelor, and then Marius returns. The first opera from film score writer Vladimir Cosma [*] (WP) 4-16 Sep; Opéra Municipal de Marseille
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Czernowin, Chaya (*1957)
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[>] www.schott-music.com
Adama [*] 25+ May; Theater Bremen
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d'Albert, Eugen (1864-1932)
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Tiefland [*] 15-21 Sep; Wiesbaden, Hessiches Staatstheater [*] 2 Oct-25 Nov; Staatstheater Braunschweig [*] 13 Oct-27 Nov; Volksoper Wien [*] 30 Nov-20 Jan; Deutsche Oper Berlin [*] 27 Jan; Annaberg, Winterstein Theater [*] 5-26 Apr; Oper Frankfurt [*] 9 Apr; Dusseldorf, Deutsche Oper am Rhein
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Dallapiccola, Luigi (1904-1975)
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Il prigioniero [*] 28 Sep-31 Oct; Hannover, Niedersächsische Staatstheater [*] 10 Apr-6 May; L'Opéra National de Paris [*] 18-30 May; Milano, Teatro alla Scala [*] 20 Jun-4 Jul; Oper Frankfurt
Volo di notte [*] 20 Jun-4 Jul; Oper Frankfurt
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Danielpour, Richard (*1956)
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[>] www.schirmer.com
Margaret Garner Based on a true story of an escaped slave faced with recapture, who kills her children to save them from a life of slavery. The uproar over the ensuing trial, when she was charged with damaging property rather than murder, was an important step in changing perceptions of slavery. Libretto: Toni Morrison [*] 11-29 Sep; New York City Opera
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Davies, Victor
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Transit of Venus Opera in 3 Acts. Based on events in the life of 18th-century astronomer, Guillaume le Gentil de la Galaisière, and his attempts to witness a transit of Venus; Libretto: Maureen Hunter, after her play 'Transit of Venus' [*] (WP) 24-30 Nov; Winnipeg, Manitoba Opera
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Earnest, The Importance of Being Operetta. Libretto: Eugene Benson, after Wilde [*] (WP) 23,24m Feb; Toronto Operetta Theatre
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