will return to London's Royal Opera after a six-year absence to open the 2025-26 season in a new production of Puccini's 鈥淭osca" that starts Jakub Hr暖拧a's tenure as music director.
She is to sing four performances from Sept. 11-21 in a new production by Oliver Mears set in a modern war-torn Rome, the company announced Wednesday. It co-stars Freddie De Tommaso and Gerald Finley.
Netrebko also is to appear in four performances of a revival of Puccini's 鈥淭urandot鈥� from Dec. 15-23 and to give a recital on June 24, 2026.
She last sung at Covent Garden in April 2019 in Verdi's 鈥淟a Forza del Destino.鈥� Scheduled appearances in Verdi's 鈥淣abucco鈥� in January 2022 were canceled because of European travel restrictions.
shortly after in February 2022. Met General Manager Peter Gelb had demanded she repudiate Russia President Vladimir Putin.
She has continued to sing at most top houses and made her first U.S. appearance in six years at a Palm Beach Opera recital in February.
Hr暖拧a, who succeeds Antonio Pappano, also will conduct the company premiere of Jan谩膷ek's 鈥淭he Makropulos Case鈥� (Nov. 4) and a revival of Britten's 鈥淧eter Grimes鈥� (May 5, 2026).
Speranza Scappucci starts her tenure as principal guest conductor with a revival of Verdi's 鈥淟es V锚pres Siciliennes鈥� (Sept. 19).
There also will be new main-stage productions of Handel's 鈥淎riodante鈥� (Dec. 9), Wagner's 鈥淪iegfried鈥� (March 17) and 鈥淏ellini's 鈥滻 Puritani" (June 30, 2026).
The Associated Press
