During almost one month long, Operafest Lisboa 2022 directed by soprano Catarina Molder and produced by Opera do Castelo in co-production with Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, under the motto “destiny in vertigo” and proposing the catharsis of mask, brought the emotion of opera directly to 5000 people, from which 1500 children and young adult who came to opera for the first time!

Circa 37% of our audience enjoyed opera for the first time and we’ve touched as well a significant number of audience who not only experienced opera for the first time but particularly contemporary opera.

Premiered productions
★
13 Opera performances
★
1 National Premiere
★
1 Absolute Premiere
★
30 singing Lessons for Curious amateurs
★
Comtemporary Opera Contest - Maratona Ópera XXI
★
1 Operatic Rave

We’ve managed again with an ambitious and innovative program to invigorate the Portuguese operatic market and bring opera closer to the audience and the world of today!

We’ve presented Verdi’s Masked Ball back to Lisbon after eighteen years, in the vibrating staging by actress and stage director Sandra Faleiro, very praised by audience and critics. We’ve presented in national premiere Labyrinth by Gian-Carlo Menotti, soon released in CD, in double bill with A Hand of Bridge by Samuel Barber, We’ve launched the cycle Audience of the Future to sensitize the youngest to opera, with marvelous opera by Isabelle Aboulker Jeremy Fisher, providing a transforming experience, not only for the audience but also for the children interpreters, performing one hour long, on stage without any conducting or direction!

We’ve enhanced new insights and proposals betting in the premiere on opera staging by well-known artists such as the actor and stage director Bruno Bravo who staged American Night or the dancer and choreographer Sílvia Real at the helm of Jeremias Fisher! And in emerging young talent in opera staging, from theatre and dance, in the 3rd Edition of Maratona Ópera XXI, the Portuguese contemporary opera contest, born within Operafest. It presented repertoire in the “closet” meaning already premiered: two excerpts of two operas by António Chagas Rosa (1994) and Daniel Moreira (2018), staged three candidates and the winner was theatre director Rodrigo Aleixo of 25 years old!

Echos:
“Bal tragique à Lisbonne”, Pierre Brévignon for Première Loge
“L'Operafest de Lisbonne illustre les 'Vertiges du destin' avec Un Ballo in maschera de Verdi",
Emmanuel Andrieu for Opera Online
“Une 'nuit américaine' à l'Operafest de Lisbonne”, Emmanuel Andrieu for Opera Online
“Meeting with Catarina Molder”, Emmanuel Andrieu for Opera Online

We’ve also presented the absolute creation of Minotaur by João Ricardo, revisited the opera The Man of Dreams by António Chagas Rosa and we've closed big with the operatic rave, attracting unusual audiences with this irresistible proposition blending pop electronic world with opera!

We’ve showcased emerging young talent: singers, musicians, conductors, creatives, stage directors, producers, composers! "We believe in the transforming power of opera and how it can bring our sorrows to another level!”

We thank from the bottom of our heart all partners who made this edition possible, with the promise to make grow and keep offering a festival which aims at always surpassing itself to bring opera to everyone, renovate its repertoire, and reach audiences of all ages, invigorating independent opera production national an internationally, betting and dignifying work and youth work.

We are also inclusive, welcoming audiences with special needs, and an eco-friendly festival, promoting economy of means, recycling and avoiding waste, risking in new proposals and new talent in all its splendor!

Operatic greetings and see you next year!