During the ten days of the “Lortzing 26” festival, ten performances can be seen in the opera house and in the musical comedy, including two premieres: Albert Lortzing’s popular opera “The Armorer”, a comedy of errors about love and status, and his great revolutionary opera “Regina”. In addition to repertoire works such as “Tsar and Carpenter” and “Undine”, there will also be chamber and choir concerts in cooperation with the International Festival for Vocal Music “a cappella” and the Ensemble amarcord. Also planned are a scientific conference in cooperation with the University of Leipzig and several exhibitions and performances by a wide variety of choirs from all over Germany. The Leipzig Opera is also preparing offers for the whole family, as well as walks to places in the city that were important to Lortzing: Albert Lortzing was actively involved in the city's social life, whether in the "Balduin zur Linde" Masonic lodge or together with Robert Blum in the rediscovery of the Leipzig Schiller House. "Lortzing 26" sheds light on his places of work and recalls Lortzing's lost places, such as the "Altes Theater" on what is now Richard-Wagner-Platz.
Tobias Wolff, artistic director of the Leipzig Opera, is looking forward to the festival: "Lortzing 26" is a great opportunity to rediscover this free spirit and jack-of-all-trades of a composer." Torsten Rose, director of the Musical Comedy, adds: "Albert Lortzing's operas are firmly anchored in the Musical Comedy's repertoire. Many great composers have been inspired by him."
For the music city of Leipzig, "Lortzing 26" is part of the annual festival series that commemorates the city's great musicians. The ten central performances and premieres will be presented at the Musikische Komödie by its orchestra and at the Opera House by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Advance ticket sales for the festival recently began. The full program will be announced in April 2025.
Anyone who wants to travel to Leipzig and experience Lortzing's most popular opera "Tsar and Carpenter" in 2025 can book the travel package "A Lortzing weekend in Leipzig" from Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH. In addition to the entrance ticket (price group I) for the opera, this also includes two nights' accommodation (including breakfast), a 3-course "Music City Leipzig" menu at the Barthels Hof inn and a large city tour. Dates: February 14-16 or May 9-11, 2025
Further information and booking: www.leipzig.travel/lortzing25-reise
Who is Albert? – Vita and Claim
Almost 180 years ago, Albert Lortzing had to leave Leipzig, but his music is inextricably linked to the city. This is where he lived and worked the longest and where he created most of his works. From 2025, the Leipzig Opera will launch the "Lortzing 26" festival with the slogan "Who is Albert?" and search for traces.
Born on October 23, 1801 in Berlin, Gustav Albert Lortzing grew up in a theater family. Even as a teenager, he became a crowd favorite. Together with his colleague Rosina Regina Ahles, whom he married in 1824, he was part of the ensemble of the Detmold Court Theater from 1826. In November 1833, Lortzing and his growing family moved to Leipzig, where he had been offered a job as an actor and singer at the city theater. He was particularly successful in comedies and was politically and socially active - as a member of the "Tunnel over the Pleiße" association, where the political opposition met during the Vormärz period. During his time in Leipzig, Lortzing composed eight operas, including his most successful composition "Tsar and Carpenter," which premiered in 1837 at what was then the Leipzig City Theater. Lortzing also wrote the libretto and played the role of Peter Ivanov. Finally appointed Kapellmeister in 1844, he was dismissed just one year later, presumably for financial and personal reasons, with rheumatic illness being the excuse. After various stops in Vienna and Berlin, he died impoverished on January 21, 1851, at the age of just 49.
Between 1835 and 1850, Albert Lortzing was the most important German opera composer. Until well into the post-war period, his operas were among the most frequently performed works on German-speaking stages.
More information about cycling in the Leipzig Region as well as more interesting routes: lortzing.oper-leipzig.de