The SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana entered 2026 with outstanding results: record attendance—every performance of every production was sold out—confirming strong and growing interest from both Slovenian and international audiences and reinforcing the position of SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana as one of the most important dance and musical theatre institutions in the region. In the first three months alone, more than 16,000 visitors attended our performances.

The first artistic highlight of the new year was the world premiere of the final operatic staging by the legendary Robert Wilson, the musical drama Tristan und Isolde, conducted by one of today’s leading conductors, Jacek Kaspszyk. The production was created as a major international co-production with La Monnaie Royal Opera House in Brussels, the Royal Theatre in Madrid, and Wrocław Opera.

This marks one of the most ambitious and complex international collaborations and productions in the history of the Ljubljana Opera and Ballet, firmly placing us on the global operatic map. Excellent reviews, audiences traveling to Ljubljana from all over the world, and completely sold-out performances clearly confirm that such projects represent the future of our theatre. In the upcoming artistic seasons, we are preparing new major international co-productions and tours of both the opera and ballet ensembles. New performances of Tristan und Isolde are planned for the next season.

Immediately following Tristan und Isolde, our theatre was once again filled to capacity with the revived performances of the ballet Doctor Zhivago, choreographed by Jiří Bubeníček and conducted by Ayrton Desimpelaere. Our Zhivago once again impressed large audiences, including the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar.

While Zhivago was being performed daily, our opera ensemble was already preparing the premiere of a new production of Verdi’s beloved La Traviata, directed by the renowned Belgian director Frank Van Laecke, under the baton of Ayrton Desimpelaere and Jakob Barbo. All 11 performances of the new La Traviata were sold out even before the premiere, allowing us to confidently say that our new Traviata is a true operatic hit. The performance scheduled for June 17 is also sold out, so we invite you to attend at the beginning of the next season.

Great anticipation also surrounds the upcoming premiere of the lavish ballet Alice in Wonderland, set to music by Carl Davis based on motifs by P. I. Tchaikovsky, choreographed by Cuban artist Howard Quintero Lopez and conducted by Simon Dvoršak. The premiere on April 16 is already generating significant interest, with most performances nearly sold out, so be sure to secure your seat in time via the website or at the theatre box office.

“Great audience interest is the result of a carefully designed program and the outstanding quality of our artists,” emphasizes the Director and Artistic Director of the Opera, Marko Hribernik, who is pleased to note that audiences of all generations are increasingly recognizing the value and energy of the Ljubljana Opera.

By the end of the season, audiences can look forward to a series of exciting projects, with the highlight being a spectacular staging of Orff’s scenic cantata Carmina Burana+, directed by the acclaimed director Manfred Schweigkofler. This production will be even more vibrant, featuring additional excerpts between movements from Orff’s other two scenic cantatas: Catulli Carmina and The Triumph of Aphrodite.

Tickets for all performances until the end of the season are available online and at the theatre box office. In addition to the premieres mentioned above, the program will also include Rossini’s comic opera The Italian Girl in Algiers and the ballet hits of past seasons, Don Quixote (choreographed by Denis Matvienko after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky) and The Great Gatsby (choreographed by Leo Mujić).

Join us and become part of a story that brings together exceptional artistry, powerful emotions, and unforgettable theatrical experiences.

 

Tristan in Izolda, premiera

Foto: Darja Štravs Tisu

 

La traviata, premiera

Foto: Darja Štravs Tisu

Tristan in Izolda, premiera

Foto: Darja Štravs Tisu

Obisk predsednice na predstavi Doktor Živago