END OF THE 2024/2025 SEASON

With the final performance of Die schweigsame Frau on July 24, 2025, the 2024/2025 season comes to an end. A brief recap:

The season began for Manuel Winckhler in September with his house debut at the Berlin State Opera as the JAILER (Tosca by G. Puccini) under the baton of Zubin Mehta. This was followed by a new production of G. Verdi’s Nabucco, in which he sang the HIGH PRIEST. The production was staged by Emma Dante and conducted by Bertrand de Billy. Next on the schedule was Richard Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten, where Winckhler took on the role of THE ONE-ARMED MAN, conducted by Constantin Trinks. He also appeared in the season’s second new production: C. Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, performed at the Berlin State Opera for the first time in 100 years. Directed by Mariame Clément and conducted by Stefano Montanari, Winckhler portrayed THE DUKE OF VERONA. In November/December, August Everding’s The Magic Flute was revived to mark its 30th anniversary in 2024. Winckhler sang the SECOND ARMORED MAN, with Eva Ollikainen conducting. He also won First Prize in the Opera and Operetta category at the Bundeswettbewerb Gesang (Federal Singing Competition).

In February/March 2025, Manuel Winckhler returned as a guest to Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Antwerp and Ghent. In the Basel-originated production of Der Freischütz directed by Christoph Marthaler, he performed the dual role of SAMIEL / THE HERMIT under the baton of Stephan Zilias. Shortly thereafter, he sang THE HERMIT in the children’s version of Der Freischütz during a guest appearance of the Berlin State Opera at the Bregenz Festival. Elias Corrinth conducted the Vorarlberg Symphony Orchestra. As part of the 2025 Festtage, he appeared at the State Opera as the SECOND KNIGHT OF THE GRAIL in Parsifal, conducted by Philippe Jordan. This was followed by a revival of Roméo et Juliette, this time under the baton of Giuseppe Mentuccia, and also as part of the Opera for All initiative conducted by Bertrand de Billy.

To close the season, Christian Thielemann conducted his first opera as General Music Director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Jan Philipp Gloger directed the new production of Richard Strauss’ Die schweigsame Frau, a work that had never before been performed at the Berlin State Opera. In this production, Manuel Winckhler took on the role of VANUZZI, which was his first major part at the Berlin State Opera.

A brief outlook:

After a short summer break, Manuel Winckhler returns to the Salzburg Festival on August 9 and 10. Under the baton of Roberto González-Monjas, he will perform works by W. A. Mozart alongside tenor Bodgan Volkov, the Mozarteum Orchestra, and the Bach Choir Salzburg.

At the end of August, he will take on the role of SARASTRO in a semi-staged performance of The Magic Flute with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen conducted by Tarmo Peltokoski. Concerts are scheduled for August 27 (Die Glocke, Bremen), August 29 (Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg), August 31 (Konzerthaus Dortmund), and September 7 (Radio Hall, Bucharest).