Beate Mordal

After interrupting her career following a traumatic performance of an opera written especially for her, an aging singer is now preparing for her return. Will this woman torn between a dream of the stage and a dream of love be able to achieve her goal? Written as a tribute to Romantic opera, Prima Donna is the first venture into opera by Rufus Wainwright, better known for his career in pop. Here we discover a self-destructive diva, inspired by Maria Callas. There is something ridiculous about the faded star, but through our admiration she will shine forever.

When his friend, blinded by love, is driven to an act of terrorism, the emperor has to learn the personal cost of political power. Dealing with the appalling jealousies, ambitions and love affairs during the reign of the emperor, La clemenza di Tito has eerie parallels with our own era in Bergen National Opera's new production. With its excellent young all-Norwegian cast, Mozart's last opera asks the deeply relevant question: who is the leader we want in times of crisis?

Picture a day like this recounts the story of a woman bereft at the loss of her baby, who is told that she has a chance to restore her infant to life: "Find one happy person in this world and cut one button from their sleeve. Do it before night and your child will live." After a series of initially promising encounters end in disappointment, can she pull off the miracle she needs? Find out in this fable about human nature, a tale of self-discovery where the flow of music—performed by the excellent Mahler Chamber Orchestra, marking their 25th anniversary—follows the flow of life.

A staging of Richard Strauss' opera "Ariadne auf Naxos" by Katie Mitchell. Recorded at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.

The world premiere of composer Kaija Saariaho's opera, "Innocence", at the 2021 Aix-en-Provence Festival. Finland is the setting but the protagonists come from the four corners of Europe: a Finnish groom and his Romanian bride, a French mother-in-law and a Czech maid. Around them memories unravel in a contemporary tragedy of guilt and lost innocence.