The Royal Ballet and Opera <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/latest-news/royal-ballet-and-opera-announces-2025-26-season”>today announced its 2025/26 season</a>, the first in Jakub Hrůša’s tenure as Music Director of the Royal Opera. The announcement unveiled a thrilling programme of new commissions, world premieres and much-loved revivals as well as the first annual festival connecting the worlds of opera and technology.
Opening the Season, Hrůša and Director of Opera <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/people/oliver-mears”>Oliver Mears</a> present a new production of <em><a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/tosca-oliver-mears-details”>Tosca</a> </em>– one of eight new productions throughout the year. Hrůša will go on to lead The Royal Opera’s first-ever staging of <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/creative-spotlight-leos-janacek”>Janáček’s</a> haunting and enigmatic opera <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/the-makropulos-case-katie-mitchell-details”><em>The Makropulos Case</em></a>, in a contemporary new production by <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/people/katie-mitchell”>Katie Mitchell</a>. He will also conduct the first revival of <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/people/deborah-warner”>Deborah Warner’s</a> acclaimed production of <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/peter-grimes-deborah-warner-details”><em>Peter Grimes</em></a> and, in a nod to his musical heritage, he will lead <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/about/orchestra”>the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House</a> and <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/about/the-royal-opera-chorus”>Royal Opera Chorus</a> in a <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/jakub-hrusa-and-friends-in-concert-details”>concert featuring music by Bartók and Dvořák</a>.
Hrůša said, “From my first experience working at The Royal Opera in 2018, it was clear to me that here is a place where the art form can be performed at the highest conceivable level. The repertoire we will work on together will be diverse and open to all directions and styles, covering the entire span of 300 years of the core repertoire. I am immensely looking forward to all of this and feel so beautifully welcomed by RBO.”
Oliver Mears, Director of Opera, The Royal Opera said: “Our 2025/26 Season represents an exciting new chapter for the Company. Starting their tenures as Music Director and Principal Guest Conductor, Jakub Hrůša and Speranza Scappucci bring their unique musical brilliance and ability to communicate and inspire, continuing our proud tradition of superlative music-making; Netia Jones begins her tenure as Associate Director with a focus on bold innovation and AI; and across both stages we are thrilled to present productions featuring the very finest singers, conductors and directors. In sum – a season of great theatre, great music, and some of the greatest masterpieces of the repertoire.”
Visit <a href=”https://www.rbo.org.uk/latest-news/royal-ballet-and-opera-announces-2025-26-season” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>rbo.org.uk</a> to view the full season announcement.
<a href=”https://www.thetimes.com/culture/classical-opera/article/jakub-hrusa-anna-netrebko-covent-garden-nc0jgmndc” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Click here to read Jakub Hrůša’s interview in The Times UK (paywall).</a>
Watch the Royal Ballet Opera’s 2025/26 Season Trailer!
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Photo: Charlie Clift