Opera Wallonie unveils season exploring power, desire and renewal

The Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège has unveiled its 2026–2027 season, built around the theme of power and desire, with a programme that balances major repertoire with lesser-known works and a new contemporary creation.

Opening the season is Macbeth, one of Giuseppe Verdi’s darkest operas. The work, centred on political ambition and moral collapse, sets the tone for a season concerned with the forces that drive human behaviour. Its themes of power and corruption resonate strongly with the broader narrative thread running through the programme.

The season then turns to Thaïs by Jules Massenet, a more introspective piece that explores spiritual desire and redemption. Long associated with the Liège stage, the opera offers a contrast to Verdi’s intensity, focusing instead on inner transformation and the tension between sensuality and faith.

A lighter but no less refined moment comes with Hubička, a rarely performed work by Bedřich Smetana. Known for its simplicity and emotional clarity, the opera provides a more intimate counterpoint within the season, highlighting everyday relationships and understated drama.

The programme closes with Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, presented with a notable twist. The production will feature a newly written ending, specially commissioned for the Liège house, offering a fresh perspective on one of opera’s most iconic finales.

A contemporary creation: Zombie Opera

Alongside these established works, the season places particular emphasis on new creation with Zombie Opera, a project led by Italian conductor and composer Andrea Battistoni.

Described as an original commission, the work brings an unexpected theme to the operatic stage. Drawing on the imagery of zombies, the production aims to explore contemporary anxieties through a genre rarely associated with opera. The choice reflects a broader ambition to connect with new audiences while expanding the boundaries of the repertoire. Battistoni, who has a longstanding relationship with the company, is expected to bring both musical ambition and theatrical flair to the project.

^{​Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège © PHOTO OPÉRA ROYAL DE WALLONIE-LIEGE}

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