Arguably the biggest premiere of the summer season in Salzburg – Maria Stuarda, the opera debut of renowned European director Ulrich Rasche. The second part from Donizetti's famous Tudor Queens Trilogy will be performed by a star-studded cast led by Lisette Oropesa and Kate Lindsey. Antonello Manacorda conducts.

This baroque story of power struggle and high intrigue will be the highly-anticipated Salzburg debut of the great Russian director Dmitry Tcherniakov. The conductor is Emmanuelle Haïm who specializes in Handel's music. The part of Cleopatra is performed by a rising Ukrainian star, soprano Olga Kulchynska.

A spectacular conclusion of the Opera Friends' program in Salzburg – a singular concert by maestro Teodor Currentzis and the Utopia Orchestra, featuring renowned pianist Alexander Melnikov. and highly regarded Swiss soprano Regula Mühlemann. The program includes works by Shostakovich and Mahler.

An alternative to maestro Currentzis' concert, the main premiere of the theatrical season curated by Marina Davydova, another eagerly awaited Salzburg debut for a Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov – The Blizzard, based on the novel by iconic Vladimir Sorokin. Featuring August Diehl as well as multiple alumni from Moscow's legendary Gogol Center.