Opera Season Highlights: From Donizetti to Vivaldi Across Spain and Beyond

The spring opera season is in full swing, offering a diverse range of performances from beloved classics to lesser-known gems. From Spain’s vibrant opera houses to international stages, audiences can anticipate compelling productions and exceptional vocal performances. This overview highlights key events scheduled for March and April 2026, showcasing the breadth and depth of the operatic landscape.

Spain: A Flourishing Lyrical Scene

Catalonia

Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu presents Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, staging a contemporary interpretation of the opera with soprano Asmik Grigorian in the lead role. Opera Actual notes the production reimagines the protagonist as an illegal immigrant seeking a new life. The Liceu also features Orlando by Handel, performed in concert form with Les Musiciens du Louvre and a revival of They Stun Them, an operatic project exploring masculinity through cinematic heroes.

Elsewhere in Catalonia, the Palau de la Música hosts recitals featuring Julia Lezhneva, Piotr Beczala, and Sondra Radvanovsky. The Opera Foundation in Catalonia will tour La Traviata, featuring Maria Miró and Montserrat Seró, to multiple cities across the region, including Barcelona, Manresa, and Girona.

Valencia

The Palau de Les Arts presents Handel’s Orlando, also performed in concert form, before its run at the Liceu. Richard Strauss’s Salome is also scheduled, featuring a new production by La Scala. Antonio Vivaldi’s Justin will be performed in concert form before its staging at the Teatro Real in Madrid.

Madrid

Madrid’s Teatro Real offers a diverse program including Benjamin Britten’s A Summer Night’s Dream, Lully’s Scars, and Smetana’s The Sold Bride. The Teatro de La Zarzuela revives Barbieri’s Play with Fire and Manuel García’s The Gypsy for Love, showcasing Spanish zarzuela traditions.

Other Spanish Cities

The Villamarta Theater in Jerez de la Frontera will host a concert performance of Mary Stuart, while the Arriaga Theater in Bilbao presents Gesualdo WC Station, an a cappella performance by Voces Suaves. The Calderon Theater in Valladolid will stage a double bill of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s Alfredo Kraus season features Verdi’s Otello with Michael Fabiano and Erika Grimaldi, and Simon Boccanegra with Miren Uribeta-Vega.

Beyond Spain: Notable Productions

The season extends beyond Spain, with notable productions at various European venues. The Teatro Circo in Albacete will present Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, featuring María Ruiz, Miguel Borrallo, and Manuel Mas. Lucia di Lammermoor, a dramma tragico in three acts, was composed by Gaetano Donizetti in 1835.

In Seville, the La Maestranza Theater will host Juan Diego Flórez and Jakub Józef Orliński in concert. The Life Victoria Festival will feature Christoph Prégardien, Alice Coote, Montserrat Seró, and Jakub Józef Orliński.

Baroque and Concert Performances

The season also highlights Baroque opera with performances of Vivaldi’s Justin and Handel’s Orlando. Concert performances of Dvořák’s Requiem and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion are also scheduled in various cities, showcasing choral and orchestral excellence.

This spring promises a rich and varied operatic experience for audiences across Spain and beyond, with a blend of classic repertoire and innovative productions.