Irene in Bayreuth Festival’s Season-Opening “Rienzi”
This summer, Gabriela Scherer returns to the Bayreuth Festival for one of the most anticipated events in the international opera calendar of 2026: the season-opening premiere of Richard Wagner’s Rienzi on 26 July.
The occasion is a historic one. Rienzi, Wagner’s third completed opera and his first major success, will be staged in Bayreuth for the first time in the Festival’s history. The new production is conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann and directed by Alexandra Szemerédy and Magdolna Parditka, who also design the sets and costumes.
Gabriela Scherer appears as Irene, Rienzi’s sister, in a cast including Andreas Schager and Magnus Vigilius in the title role, Jennifer Holloway and Annika Schlicht as Adriano, Andreas Bauer Kanabas and Vitalij Kowaljow as Steffano Colonna, Michael Nagy and Michael Kupfer-Radecky as Paolo Orsini, and Vitalij Kowaljow and Patrick Zielke as Kardinal Raimondo.
Following the premiere, further performances take place at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus on 3, 8, 14, 17, 19, 22, 24 and 26 August 2026.
More information on https://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/programm/auffuehrungen/rienzi/
[Photo: Tim Weiler / O-PR]
More news
“Fidelio” at Opernhaus Zürich
In May 2026, Gabriela Scherer returns to the Opernhaus Zürich for a major milestone: she will appear there for the first time in a leading role, singing Leonore in Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven. Born and raised in Zurich and a former member of the house’s International Opera Studio, Scherer now returns to the main stage as an established artist, taking on one of the most demanding roles in the repertoire. The production is staged by Andreas Homoki and conducted by Axel Kober. With these performances, Gabriela Scherer returns to Zurich in a role she has already successfully performed two years ago in Lisbon, now bringing it to her home opera house for the first time.
Senta at Deutsche Oper Berlin
Senta in Der fliegende Holländer has long been central to Gabriela Scherer’s repertoire, and on January 18 she is heard in the role again in a one-off performance at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Pamina in “Die Zauberflöte” at Staatsoper Berlin
Gabriela Scherer returns to the role of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte for a one-off performance at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden on 3 January 2026. Following her acclaimed role debut during the 2024/25 season at the same house, the soprano appears once again in the legendary production by August Everding, conducted by Giuseppe Mantuccia.
