The Vienna State Opera is one of the top opera addresses in the world, with first-class productions of the very highest caliber and a different program every day: around 50 operas and ballet works per season, danced by the Vienna State Ballet. The variety of the operatic program is unparalleled anywhere in the world.

2022/23 under the banner of Mahler

The 2022/23 season is dedicated to Gustav Mahler: Autumn 2022 marks the 125th anniversary of Mahler's taking up office as director of the house – all new productions have a reference to the revolutionary opera director Mahler.

• Von der Liebe Tod, a staged performance of Mahler's Das Klagende Lied and his song cycleKindertotenlieder
• Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
• Salome
• Le nozze di Figaro
• Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria
• Dialogues des Carmélites

These are joined by the youth opera premiere Tschick as well as seven revivals: La Juive, Jenufa, Cardillac, Andrea Chénier, Aida, Fidelio, and Lady Macbeth von Mzensk.

All this is supplemented with a wide-ranging repertoire. Focal points are works by Mozart, Wagner, and classic operas of the 20th century that form a bridge between tradition and contemporary composition.

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International stars

In 2022/23 there's a reunion with, among others, Roberto Alagna (Eléazar in La Juive), Juan Diego Flórez (Tonio in La Fille du régiment; singer in the Rosenkavalier - here’s an interview with Flórez, in which he gushes about Vienna), Elina Garanca (Carmen; Amneris in Aida), Asmik Grigorian (Jenufa; Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana; Nedda in Pagliacci), Jonas Kaufmann (Andrea Chénier; Radames in Aida), Camilla Nylund (Ariadne; Tosca; Elsa in Lohengrin), Andreas Schager (Tristan and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus), Erwin Schrott (Escamillo in Carmen; Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore; Scarpia in Tosca), Nina Stemme (Elektra; Isolde; Ortrud in Lohengrin), and Sonya Yoncheva (Rachel in La Juive; Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly).

Subtitles at the push of a button

Audience members can individually switch on subtitles – in German, English, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. The 2,021 displays at the seats also offer information about the cast and contents of the performance (in German or English). By the way, the subtitles are shown manually by pushing a button, since no two performances are identical in terms of tempo.

Vienna Opera Ball

For one night of the year, the Vienna State Opera transforms into a large dance floor – for the Vienna Opera Ball, considered to be the biggest meeting point in Austria for artists, politicians and businesspeople from around the world. Over a hundred debutant couples in long evening gown and tails open the ball of balls.

Glorious architecture

During guided tours, you can take a peek behind the scenes of the mighty opera house. The State Opera was erected between 1863 and 1869 as one of the first prestigious buildings on the then newly-created Ringstrasse boulevard. The 120-meter long intermission halls of the State Opera connect to frame the main staircase. To the right of the stairs lies the Gustav Mahler Hall. Gustav Mahler left his mark on opera like no other during his ten years as Director - with an unprecedented opera reform.

Explore this magnificent building of the Vienna State Opera virtually and in the VR experience "Wiener Staatsoper VR – Beyond the Scenes" - with insights in 360 degrees: dive into the world of opera, in front of and behind the scenes...