If you haven’t explored Pittsburgh’s Cultural Distract then you’re missing out on a world of professional performances by some of the best talent in the world. Among these are performances from the Pittsburgh Opera, a cast of fantastic singers and actors rooting their vibrant performances in the traditional side of opera. For the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Opera explores five different productions spanning across genres and decades. General Director of Pittsburgh Opera Christopher Hahn takes us through what he’s looking forward to in his last season with this company prior to his retirement.
The Pittsburgh Opera 2025-26 Season with Christopher Hahn
La Bohème
I’m very excited to hear the combined talents of Vuvu Mpofu (our recent spectacular Violetta in La Traviata) in a role debut and our very own Daniel O’Hearn returning to us after a stint at the Metropolitan Opera. I am expecting major chemistry!
Fellow Travelers
This entire story, set in the repressive world of Washington DC in the 1950s during the McCarthy era holds up a mirror to our current challenges in a quite uncanny way.
Curlew River
The opportunity to see and hear Britten’s powerful piece Curlew River, in the solemn splendor of Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside, is something I am so looking forward to. It is powerfully impactful and rarely performed, and a great gift to our Pittsburgh community.
Time To Act
Our latest world premiere Time To Act brings the fine team of composer Laura Kaminsky and librettist Crystal Manich together to bring to life the struggles of young people dealing with weighty matters in the context of their school’s drama class. This promises to be very compelling indeed.
Falstaff
Falstaff is one of my favorite operas, and Verdi’s last, brilliant statement about life and laughter. When the curtain comes down on the final performance (which will also mark the final performance of my tenure as General Director) I know we will emerge from the theater with a renewed optimism and anticipation for what lies in store for this wonderful Pittsburgh Opera and its many devoted supporters!
Story by Christopher Hahn
Photos Courtesy of Pittsburgh Opera
Featured Photo Courtesy of David Allen for Opera San Jose
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