Some of the wonderful artists taking part in this terrific series of Verdi operas include: Otello, who was snapped up by Bernd Loebe when he heard her in audition in New York. Riccardo Frizza, a specialist in Italian repertoire, who has recently conducted in Munich, Vienna, Paris, San Francisco and New York, making his house debut with Otello. The July performances will be conducted by General Music Director Sebastian Weigle – who led the production when it was new.

Two more singers making their house debuts in Don Carlo are Giorgio Giuseppini as Philipp II. and Serena Farnocchia as Elisabeth. This Italian bass is a regular guest at La Scala Milan and many other international opera houses. Serena Farnocchia’s recent engagements have included Adalgisa (Norma) in Rome, Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) in Santiago de Chile and Liù (Turandot) in Munich. And we can all look forward to tenor Alfred Kim (a member of the ensemble) singing the title role for the first time in this production.

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja sings Riccardo in Maskenball/A Masked Ball for the first time in Frankfurt. This star tenor is a regular guest at Oper Frankfurt – our Intendant was among the first to recognise his potential when he was younger. Future engagements include Tebaldo in Bellini’s Capuleti e i Montecchi, the Duke in Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Munich State Opera and Nadir in Bizet’s Pearl Fishers at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, a role he last sang in concert performances of this work for Oper Frankfurt in 2009.

Those taking part in the last new production of the season, Die sizilianische Vesper/The Sicilian Vespers, include Quinn Kelsey, Raymond Aceto, Elza van den Heever and Alfred Kim. This years Opera Finale is dedicated to Verdi. More information about this on the English version of this website will appear very soon.