A “Meeting of Titans”, in the square of Creativity, marks the start of this year’s edition of the Óbidos Opera Festival, which under the theme “Light and Darkness” brings lyrical repertoire to the historical heritage of the village in September.
© Lusa
17/08/2026
by
Lusa
O festival proposes this year “a trip from the baroque period to the dawns of belcanto and romanticism”, according to the artistic director, Carla Caramujo, responsible for the programming that, between 5th and 20th of September will go through different periods and languages of the operatic repertoire.
Under the theme “Light and Darkness” the program begins on the 05th with the gala “Meeting of Titans”, with the Orchestra of Beiras, directed by Jan Wierzba, and soloists Inês Simões, Susana Gaspar, Beatriz Patronio, Cátia Moreso, João Barbas and André Henriques.
The show, which will take place in the Square of Creativity, includes excerpts from “Fidelio”, the only opera by Ludwig van Beethoven, from “A Clemência de Tito”, the last opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and “O Franco-Sniper”, considered the masterpiece of Carl Maria von Weber, marking this year the 200 years of the composer’s death.
On its first weekend the festival puts in dialogue “The Cinderella, or the triumph of goodness”, by Giochino Rossini, and “Caim, or First Homicide, by Alessandro Scarlatti”.
The first will feature two presentations (on the 11th and 12th) at the Convent of Gaeiras, where the director Pedro Ribeiro “reimagins classical history, transporting it to contemporary times and creating a universe marked by amazing scenarios”, released the organization in a press release.
The second will be presented on the 12th in the Church of Mercy, which receives the “Baroque thriller brings to the stage the biblical history of Abel’s murder at the hands of his brother Cain, exploring topics such as violence, envy, guilt and human condition”, says the same note on the show presented in coproduction with the Casa de Mateus Foundation.
The program also includes the recital “De Purcell a Britten: more than two centuries of Shakespearean passion”, scheduled for the 16th, at the Abílio Museum of Mattos e Silva.
On the closing weekend, again at the Convent of the Gaeiras, Christoph Willibald Gluck’s “Orpheus and Eurydice”. In a reading by the director Carlos Antunes, the Greek myth is mirrored in an act that crosses soloists, choir, orchestra and dance, with eight dancers on stage, in a choreography by Teresa Simas and costumes by José António Lente.
Created in 2004, the festival has been organized since 2023 by ABA – Banda de Alcobaça Associação de Artes, in partnership with the municipality, after an interruption between 2011 and 2023.
Tickets are for sale at blueticket.meo. en, at the Convent of São Miguel das Gaeiras, at ABA – Banda de Alcobaça Association of Arts and in the usual places.