Tradition mixed with transformation: inside the Hamburg State Opera, Ballet and Philharmonic Orchestra

By Ndéla Faye

In the very heart of Hamburg, the city’s State Opera, Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamburg Ballet form a cultural trifecta that masterfully balances reverence for tradition with an appetite for reinvention. Together, they embody the city’s vibrant spirit and artistic talent.

Founded in 1678, the Hamburg State Opera is one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious opera houses – a cornerstone of the city’s cultural life. Home to the internationally renowned Hamburg Ballet and Philharmonic State Orchestra, the Opera has long been a space where history and innovation flourish on stage.

The Nutcracker, in December. Photo: Kiran West

Now, the Hamburg State Opera is entering a new chapter. With the 2025/26 season, two new artistic directors will lead the institution into what promises to be a thrilling era of artistic renewal. “With artistic directors Tobias Kratzer and Omer Meir Wellber, the Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra present themselves with a modern identity,” says Tanja Franke, press spokesperson. “We unite tradition and contemporary creativity, and we want music theatre to be an experience for all generations,” Franke states.

The Nutcracker. Photo: Kiran West

This new vision is already taking shape in the upcoming programme. The season will feature world premieres, including Monster’s Paradise by Olga Neuwirth and Elfriede Jelinek, as well as bold new stagings of works by Mozart, Schumann, Bartók and Zemlinsky. A Strauss trilogy – Salome, Ariadne auf Naxos, and Elektra, directed by Dmitri Tcherniakov, will undoubtedly enchant audiences.

Tradition mixed with transformation: inside the Hamburg State Opera, Ballet and Philharmonic Orchestra

Hamburg Ballet artistic director Lloyd Riggins. Photo: Kiran West

From children’s operas and innovative productions to interactive educational programmes such as CLICK in – an outreach initiative that brings music and dance to schools, public spaces and communities – Hamburg Opera, Ballet and Orchestra open their doors to the entire city and for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

The Hamburg State Opera is also a hub of education and civic engagement. Its 24-member soloist ensemble, International Opera Studio, and Orchestra Academy nurture the next generation of artists and young talent. “We want to tell stories and be socially relevant. Everything opera can, this is our motto,” Franke says.

Hamburg State Opera. Photo: Niklas Marc Heinecke

From classic roots to contemporary vision

At the Hamburg Ballet, evolution is also part of the creative philosophy. The Ballet company rose to fame over the last five decades with its long-time artistic director and choreographer John Neumeier. Since summer 2025, Lloyd Riggins has been at the helm of the company.

This winter, Hamburg Ballet’s big premiere is the double bill ROMANTIC EVOLUTION/S, which combines La Sylphide, August Bournonville’s 1836 masterpiece, with Äther (Ether), a world premiere by principal dancer and emerging choreographer Aleix Martínez.

La Sylphide. Photo: Holger Badekow

When La Sylphide first premiered, it marked the dawn of a new art form: romantic ballet. The story tells the tragic tale of a Scottish farmer who abandons his fiancée to pursue a sylph, a spirit of the air. Aleix Martínez, an up-and-coming choreographer of the Hamburg ensemble, has fittingly titled his new creation Äther (Ether). Drawing inspiration from the same romantic themes of desire, nature and the unattainable, Martínez reimagines them through a modern lens. With this combination, ROMANTIC EVOLUTION/S, which runs from 7 December 2025 until 4 July 2026, promises to be a fascinating dialogue across the centuries of dance.

Monster’s Paradise by Olga Neuwirth and Elfriede Jelinek. Photo: Manuel Braun

The production has been commissioned by Lloyd Riggins, who was appointed new artistic director of the Hamburg Ballet in summer 2025. He has been with the company for over 30 years, first as principal dancer, later as ballet master and deputy director to John Neumeier.

“Taking over the artistic leadership of this outstanding company is both a great responsibility and a great opportunity for me. I’ll use all my experience, energy and knowledge to lead the company and this institution into a bright future with passion and humanity,” says Riggins.

He aims to build on the Hamburg Ballet’s strong legacy of John Neumeier, while fostering new creations and collaborations that will keep Hamburg’s dance tradition vibrant and evolving.

In this spirit, ROMANTIC EVOLUTION/S signals the company’s forward-looking ethos, while audiences can also look forward to the timeless and familiar comfort of classics like John Neumeier’s The Nutcracker, which runs from 22 December 2025 to 6 January 2026.

Das Paradies und die Peri. Photo: Hilde van Mas

The city’s cultural heartbeat

Under the baton of Wellber, the Philharmonic State Orchestra of Hamburg plays a central role in both concerts and opera productions. It experiments with new formats, fostering exciting musical dialogues between past and present.

Opera lovers can also expect Italian classics by Verdi and Donizetti, alongside orchestral programmes under the motto ZeitSpiele (Time Games), the Blue Week festival, chamber concerts, and special events including Leonard Bernstein’s Mass and the much-anticipated New Year’s Eve concert. “The Philharmonic experiments with new formats and aims to make classical music feel alive, relevant and resonant today,” a spokesperson says.

Hamburg’s great institutions of music and dance remind us that tradition is a foundation from which new art can rise and evolve. The Hamburg State Opera, Philharmonic Orchestra and Ballet continue to welcome audiences from around the world to experience art in motion – and to witness the exhilarating transformations it inspires.