Never-before-seen operas and a reimagining of ‘Medusa’ are among productions announced on Thursday by incoming General and Artistic Director of La Monnaie Christina Scheppelmann as she unveiled the opera house’s 2025-2026 programme.
The line-up includes ‘Ali,’ a narrative exploring the individual behind the “migration statistics in the media.” This opera is inspired by the true story of Ali Abdi Omar, who fled Somalia at the age of 12, eventually arriving in Brussels after a long, perilous journey.
La Monnaie describes 'Ali' as a “coming-of-age portrait of the ‘human condition’.”
Notable reworks include reworked Verdi classic 'Falstaff'
‘Medusa’, a reinterpretation of the Greek myth about the beautiful woman with snakes for hair, is also set to feature, alongside ‘Falstaff’, a rework of Verdi’s classic.
Director Laurent Pelly, conductor Alain Altinoglu, and baritone Sir Simon Keenlyside, who will debut as Sir John Falstaff, are expected to deliver compelling performances.
Audiences can also look forward to Mozart’s ‘Idomeneo’, ‘Norma’ by Christophe Coppens, and more.
In addition to these classical operas, La Monnaie plans an extensive musical programme, often in collaboration with the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts, Bozar. Highlights include ‘Musorgsky meets Shostakovich,’ ‘L’enfant et les sortilèges,’ SNAKE by Benoît Giaux, and Carnival Season.
More than just an opera house
La Monnaie comprises a symphony orchestra, an adult choir, a children’s and youth choir, and the MM Academy, which channels homegrown artistic talent towards international careers.
Christina Scheppelmann, soon to succeed Peter De Caluwe, emphasises that La Monnaie is more than just an opera house. “We work with composers, artistic teams, conductors, and singers from around the world, bridging linguistic and cultural differences through the universal language of music,” she notes. “Opera is inherently a unifying art form.”
Current director Peter De Caluwe reflects positively on his tenure, despite facing several crises over the past decade. “We remain undeniably strong, as evidenced by our many award-winning productions and projects, as well as our twice being named ‘Best Opera House of the Year’,” he says.
De Caluwe believes that as Europe’s societies lean towards division, “our role as a federal institution in the capital of Europe is increasingly crucial.”
“La Monnaie has always prioritised connection, which we must maintain at all levels,” he stresses.
