Mark Gresham | 7 FEB 2025
ATLANTA, Georgia— The Atlanta Opera (TAO), under the executive and artistic direction of Tomer Zvulun, has revealed plans for its 2025-2026 season, emphasizing a theme of “twilight” — an end of an era leading to transformation and new beginnings. The season marks a historic moment for the opera company as it completes the first “Ring Cycle” in Atlanta’s history, and the first in the American Southeast, with the production of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung (“Twilight of the Gods”).
Tomer Zvulun (credit: The Sintoses)
Zvulun, speaking in a recent call, highlighted the season’s narrative as one where “everything must end,” leading to a “new dawn for humanity.”
The season will feature four main stage productions by some of opera’s most significant composers: Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Verdi’s La Traviata, Puccini’s Turandot, and Wagner’s Götterdämmerung. Zvulun described it as “the biggest, most luxurious season” the opera has ever done, with repertoire drawn from over 225 years of musical history from the 18th through the 20th century.
The Marriage of Figaro will showcase traditional costumes with exquisite sets by Leslie Travers, directed by Stephen Lawless, featuring both returning and debuting singers in Atlanta.
La Traviata revives Francesca Zambello’s brilliant production with a TAO debut by conductor Evan Rogister, alongside singers making waves in Europe.
Turandot will mark a centennial celebration, opening exactly 100 years to the day after its premiere at La Scala, featuring designs by Erhard Rom and costumes by Ana Kuzmanic, set in a modern mythology style.
Götterdämmerung is not just the season’s apex but also embodies the theme with its narrative of the gods’ end and humanity’s new beginning. Zvulun emphasized, “It’s a very exciting moment… with this jewel in the crown… the final installment in the Ring Cycle.”
The season also includes two “Discoveries Series” events. One is Philip Glass’ La Belle et la Bête, an opera for ensemble and film, based on the 1946 Jean Cocteau film. The other, a collaboration with the Alliance Theater which opens the season in September, remains under wraps but promises to be a significant musical from the 20th century.
Zvulun’s vision for the season extends beyond the stage, connecting with global moments of change and encouraging audiences to reflect upon that. “Everything must end, and that’s okay because there’s a new dawn coming,” he remarked, drawing parallels between the season’s themes and contemporary societal shifts.
The Atlanta Opera transitioned to being a “Tier 1” opera company at the start of the current season and plans for a new opera center to open in the summer of 2027, both of which Zvulun sees as part of the narrative of endings and new beginnings — developments that are a testament to the company’s growth and its commitment to cultural transformation within the Atlanta community.
This ambitious season aims not just to entertain but to stimulate conversation and introspection, aligning with Zvulun’s belief that “finding a way to make people think is the role of an art form.” ■
The Atlanta Opera 2025-26 Season:
All announced performances take place in the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
- September 2025
Co-production with The Alliance Theatre
[TBA] - Nov 8, 11, 14, 16 (m), 2025
VERDI: La traviata
Violetta: Mané Galoyan
Alfredo Germont: Long Long
Giorgio Germont: Anthony Clark Evans
Evan Rogister, conductor
Francesca Zambello, director - Nov 15, 2025
Philip GLASS: La Belle et la Bête
Performers TBA - March 14, 17, 20, 22 (m), 2026
MOZART: The Marriage of Figaro
Count Almaviva: Luke Sutliff
Countess Almaviva: Iulia Maria Dan
Susanna: Sydney Mancasola
Cherubino: Rihab Chaieb
Stephen Lawless, director - April 25, 28, May 1, 3 (m), 2026
PUCCINI: Turandot
Princess Turandot: Angela Meade
Calaf: Piero Pretti
Liù: Juliana Grigoryan
Timur: Peixin Chen Iván López-Reynoso, conductor
Tomer Zvulun, director - May 30, June 2, 5, 7 (m), 2026
WAGNER: Twilight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung)
Siegfried: Stefan Vinke
Brunnhilde: Lise Lindstrom
Hagen: Morris Robinson
Roberto Kalb, conductor
Tomer Zvulun, director
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- The Atlanta Opera: www.atlantaopera.org
Read more by Mark Gresham.
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