The Silent Woman by Strauss, Alates (2025/2025), Juhatatud Jan Philipp Gloger, Dirigent Christian Thielemann, Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, Germany

For Richard Strauss, who was approaching seventy, it was a stroke of luck when, at the beginning of the 1930s, the renowned writer Stefan Zweig, known for his artistic, thoughtful novels, novellas and plays, recommended himself as his new librettist. In a mutually inspiring collaboration, they created a truly "comic opera" based on a comedy by Ben Jonson from Shakespeare's time, full of distinctive characters, tempo and wit, but also of great thoughtfulness. "The opera is a direct hit, if only in the 21st century," said Strauss himself, who, in difficult, dark times, succeeded in creating a work of great compositional virtuosity and relaxed cheerfulness, a story of people who long for peace or indulge in busyness. Director Jan Philipp Gloger is making his debut at the State Opera - and for Christian Thielemann it is the first new production as the house's General Music Director, a position that Strauss once held.