Cincinnati Opera is pulling no punches next summer.
The company’s newly announced 2026 Summer Festival lineup – unveiled Wednesday night at Music Hall – will feature the world premiere of an Afrofuturist opera, the return of “Salome” after a 25-year absence, and a fresh take on “Carmen.” Other performances include a rare staging of a contemporary “Orpheus and Euridice” and the return of the popular Studio Sessions, which offer an informal, intimate concert experience featuring performers from the season.
Running June 18 to Aug. 2, the festival also marks the launch of the Black Opera Project, a multiyear commissioning initiative centered on stories and creators from the Black American experience. Its first full-scale work, “Lalovavi,” is a futuristic opera set 400 years from now in a society ruled by genetic power. The story follows a young woman who becomes both a target and a symbol of resistance.
Summer Festival. (Photo by Steven Pisano, courtesy of Opera Philadelphia)
“When opera is at its best, it has the potential to open doors to joy, empathy and understanding,” said artistic director Evans Mirageas. He added that Cincinnati Opera crafted its 2026 schedule with “this aspiration, celebrating works that make us feel deeply, reflect on our world and connect with one another through profound shared experiences.”
“From the bold imagination of ‘Lalovavi’ and the fierce power of ‘Salome’ and ‘Carmen,’ to the intimacy of ‘Orpheus and Euridice,’ we invite audiences both longtime and new to discover themselves within these stories and become immersed in their inspiring artistry,” he continued.
Continuing a century-old mission
The upcoming festival season also reflects Cincinnati Opera’s growing effort to expand access and representation – on stage and in the audience, according to general director and CEO Chris Milligan.
Milligan said the company designed the season with a clear philosophy in mind: “Anyone can enjoy opera, and everyone should have the opportunity.” By sharing diverse voices and stories and presenting experiences “rooted in and reflective of our community,” he added, the company hopes to offer “meaningful pathways for everyone to find connection and belonging at Cincinnati Opera.”
Single tickets, which go on sale Nov. 21, start at $21. Discounts are available for seniors, students, educators, veterans, SNAP cardholders and ArtsWave Pass holders. Season subscriptions start at $60.
“As we launch our 2026 Summer Festival, we do so with incredible excitement and a deep appreciation for the city and region that has sustained and energized us for 106 years,” Milligan said.
2026 Summer Festival
“Salome” – June 18 and 20
Richard Strauss’ scandalous one-act opera returns to Music Hall for the first time since 2000. Based on the Oscar Wilde play, it centers on Princess Salome’s obsession with Jochanaan (John the Baptist) and the destruction it brings. Kathryn Lewek makes her role debut as Salome, with Alfred Walker as Jochanaan and Chad Shelton as Herod. Jose Maria Condemi directs, and former Atlanta Symphony music director Robert Spano conducts.
Studio Sessions – June 25 and July 1
Back after a sold-out run in 2025, these two informal concerts in the Wilks Studio give audiences a chance to hear opera singers in a more personal setting. Each night is curated by the artists themselves. Performer lineups will be announced at a later date.
“Lalovavi” – July 9 and 11
This world premiere by composer Kevin Day and librettist Tifara Brown explores identity, power and resistance through an Afrofuturist lens. Set centuries into the future, the story follows Persephone, a young woman whose rare genetic trait sparks a rebellion. The opera is sung in English and Tut, a constructed language created for the composition, with projected English translations. Kimille Howard directs, and Kevin Miller conducts a cast featuring Brittany Olivia Logan, Talise Trevigne and Morris Robinson. This is the first work in Cincinnati Opera’s three-part Black Opera Project.
“Carmen” – July 25, 29, 31 and Aug. 2
Bizet’s classic tale of love, jealousy and freedom returns in a Havana-inspired staging new to Cincinnati. J’Nai Bridges stars as Carmen, joined by Matthew White as Don José and Ryan McKinny as Escamillo. Ramón Tebar conducts. The production comes from Opera Philadelphia and Seattle Opera.
“Orpheus and Euridice” – July 28, 30 and Aug. 1
Ricky Ian Gordon’s modern chamber opera reimagines the ancient myth of love and loss. Presented in Wilks Studio, the piece features soprano Heidi Middendorf and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra principal clarinetist Christopher Pell. Audrey Chait directs, with choreography by Cincinnati Ballet’s Yoshihisa Arai.
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