Teatro Real to open 2026/27 season with Puccini’s ‘Manon Lescaut’

The Teatro Real in Madrid will inaugurate its 2026/27 opera season with a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s ‘Manon Lescaut’. The production, a co-production with the Cologne Opera, marks the return of this title to the Teatro Real stage after a 102-year absence.

Directed by Carlos Wagner, the production features musical direction by Nicola Luisotti. The cast includes performers such as Sondra Radvanovsky, Saioa Hernández, Michael Fabiano, and Jorge de León. The opera will be presented in 13 performances scheduled between September 23 and October 11.

Wagner, a Venezuelan stage director, aims to combine acting work with the technical demands of singing through a symbolic scenography. The production highlights Puccini’s signature style, including his exploration of female psychology and rich orchestration.