Contemporary, interactive, modern, colourful, bold, Czech and world – this is Opera Nova festival 2024.

The Opera Nova, contemporary opera festival, is a showcase of contemporary Czech and international opera creations and innovative festival concept that aims to connect opera with other types of modern art and themes that move nowadays society.

Opera Nova will begin on June 14 with the first of three Czech premieres, György Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre, a masterpiece that is considered one of the milestones of the 20th century opera creations. After this premiere an extraordinary performance by Lukas Ligeti and his guests entitled Ligeti Late Night will follow, featuring a new semi-improvised composition by this multi-faceted artist. We will then present a number of new operas by Czech and international composers such are works by Jiří Trtík and Šimon Voseček as well as a Czech premiere of the chamber opera The Yellow Wallpaper by the British composer Dani Howard, which was performed last year at London's legendary Sadler's Wells Theatre and at the Copenhagen Opera Festival. Another highlight of the festival will be Les Papillons de Terezín (Butterflies from Terezín) by French composer and conductor Charles Baumstark, a new children’s opera considered as a new version of Hans Krása’s Brundibár.

The Opera Nova Festival, a part of 2024’s Year of Czech Music, is an opportunity for music-goers to meet exceptional Czech and international artists, primarily those from the up-coming generations. Audiences will have the opportunity of encountering the future talents of Petr Nekoranec, Logan Lopez Gonzalez, William Morgan, Bella Adamova, Clare Presland, Arnheiður Eiríksdóttir, Eir Inderhaug, designer Maxim Velčovský, conductor Stephania Childress, pianist Terezie Fialová and violoncellist Hana Baboráková. The National Theatre Orchestra and the State Opera Orchestra will accompany the STRO.MY Ensemble and Prague Philharmonic Children’s Choir for a very unique performance.

Jiří Rožeň, a representative of the younger generation of Czech conductors, has been appointed artistic curator of the Opera Nova festival for 2024. He has been focusing on 20th century opera at the National Theatre Opera and the State Opera.