Concert Kinderopernorchester

For schools and families (8+)

From 25. May 2026 until 21. June 2026

The newly founded Children’s Opera Orchestra is realised in close collaboration with all 36 music schools of the Canton of Zurich and the Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House. Talented children aged 7 to 14 from all regions of the canton are given the opportunity to further develop their musical practice, experience ensemble playing, discover well-known works of the operatic repertoire and perform on the internationally renowned stage of the Zurich Opera House.

Musical Director:

Gianandrea Noseda

Gianandrea Noseda has been General Music Director of the Zurich Opera House since the 2021/22 season. In addition, he is Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, he became Music Director of the newly founded Tsinandali Festival and the Georgian Pan-Caucasian Youth Orchestra. From 2007 to 2018, Noseda served as General Music Director of the Teatro Regio di Torino, where he artistically reshaped the opera house during his tenure. Noseda has conducted the world’s leading orchestras (Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic) as well as at the most prestigious opera houses (La Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House) and festivals (BBC Proms, Edinburgh, Salzburg, and Verbier). He has also held leading positions with the BBC Philharmonic (Chief Conductor), the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (Principal Guest Conductor), the Mariinsky Theatre (Principal Guest Conductor), and the Stresa Festival (Artistic Director). His discography comprises more than 80 CDs, with a special focus on the "Musica Italiana" project, which features neglected 20th-century Italian repertoire. Born in Milan, Noseda is a Commendatore al Merito della Repubblica Italiana and received the Order of Merit of the City of Milan in 2024. In 2015, he was named "Musical America’s Conductor of the Year," was awarded "Conductor of the Year" at the 2016 International Opera Awards, and received the Puccini Prize in 2023. In the same year, the Oper! Awards honored Noseda as "Best Conductor," particularly recognizing his interpretations of the first two "Ring" operas at the Zurich Opera House.

Un ballo in Maschera22 / 28 / 31 May / 7 / 13 Jun / 26 / 27 / 29 / 30 Aug 2026 La forza del destino2 / 7 / 12 / 15 / 18 / 21 / 26 / 29 Nov / 17 / 21 Dec 2025 Macbeth8 / 11 / 14 / 19 / 22 / 30 Nov 2025 Ehnes & Noseda23 Nov 2025 Open-Air-Concert28 Jun 2026 / 4 Jul 2027 Mühlemann & Noseda21 / 28 Mar / 1 Apr 2026 Europa-Tournee 2026 «Messa da Requiem»22 / 23 / 25 / 26 / 29 / 31 Mar 2026 Rachmaninov – Die drei Opern1 / 4 / 8 / 15 / 18 / 21 / 28 Nov 2026 Das Rheingold29 Nov / 4 / 12 / 17 Dec 2026 Gabetta & Noseda7 Nov 2026 Die Walküre24 / 31 Jan / 3 / 6 Feb 2027 Samson et Dalila13 / 17 / 20 / 24 / 27 / 30 Jun / 2 / 9 Jul 2027 Kinderopernorcherster23 / 27 May / 7 / 19 / 20 Jun 2027 Concert Kinderopernorchester25 May / 1 / 13 / 18 / 21 Jun 2026

Chorus Master:

Alice Lapasin Zorzit

Alice Lapasin Zorzit completed her piano studies at the Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Boccherini in Lucca and continued her training at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz, where she graduated with distinction in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in choral conducting. During this time, she gained her first experience in the opera world as a répétiteur at the Landestheater Linz. In 2017 she took part in the Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy, and in the 2018/19 season she served as a répétiteur with the Orchestra Academy of the Zurich Opera House. The 2019/20 season brought an engagement as deputy children’s choir director and guest pianist at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin. She subsequently moved to the Staatstheater Darmstadt, where she worked from 2020 to 2022 as deputy chorus director and children’s choir director. Alongside her professional development, she continued her academic studies: in 2021 she completed her Master’s degree in conducting and opera coaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, followed in 2022 by a part-time Master’s degree in cultural management (EMAA) at the University of Zurich. As a cultural manager, she was a scholarship holder of the Deutsche Bank Foundation (AMH) and founded the artist agency ArteMIS in 2024. From 2023 to 2025, Alice Lapasin Zorzit was chorus director with conducting duties at the Landestheater Coburg, and in the summer of 2025 she worked as chorus assistant at the Bayreuth Festival. Since January 2026 she has been deputy chorus director at Zurich Opera House.

Werther14 / 19 Jun / 1 / 4 / 10 Jul 2026 Così fan tutte3 / 7 / 9 / 12 Jul 2026 Giulio Cesare in Egitto11 / 13 / 15 / 17 / 21 / 25 / 28 Mar 2026 Scylla et Glaucus27 / 29 / 31 Mar / 2 / 6 / 30 Apr / 2 May 2026 La rondine24 / 27 Sept / 1 / 10 / 15 Oct 2026 Alice im Wunderland8 / 15 / 19 / 21 / 26 / 28 Nov / 6 Dec 2026 / 2 / 7 / 8 / 10 / 17 Jan 2027 Elektra22 / 26 Nov / 2 / 5 / 10 / 13 / 16 Dec 2026 La traviata20 / 23 / 29 Dec 2026 / 1 / 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 / 15 / 19 / 23 Jan 2027 Die lustige Witwe27 / 31 Dec 2026 / 3 / 7 / 10 / 13 Jan 2027 Roméo et Juliette12 / 19 / 21 Feb / 2 / 5 Mar 2027 Tosca11 / 14 / 17 / 21 / 24 Apr / 13 / 17 May 2027 Le nozze di Figaro2 / 6 / 8 / 15 / 19 May 2027 Don Pasquale23 / 27 / 30 May / 4 / 6 / 11 Jun 2027 La bohème16 / 18 / 23 Jun / 4 / 7 / 10 Jul 2027 Herr der Diebe27 Feb / 2 / 4 / 6 / 7 / 9 / 10 / 11 Mar 2027 Concert Kinderopernorchester25 May / 1 / 13 / 18 / 21 Jun 2026

Cast

Frasquita / Gretel Sylwia Salamońska-Bączyk

Carmen / Hänsel Cashlin Oostindië

Mercedes / Sandmann Thalia Cook-Hansen

Sylwia Salamońska-Bączyk

Sylwia Salamońska-Bączyk, soprano, studied with Wojciech Maciejowski in Poznań. She also attended masterclasses with, among others, Olga Pasiecznik, Izabela Kłosińska, Mariusz Kwiecień, Hedwig Fassbender, and Edith Wiens, as well as with vocal coaches and pianists Sofia Muñoz, Maciej Pikulski, Katelan Tran Terrell, and Michał Biel. During her studies, she sang roles such as Lauretta ("Gianni Schicchi") and Zosia (Stanisław Moniuszko’s "Die Geister"). In the 2023/24 season, she was part of the Opera Academy Young Talent Development Programme at the National Opera in Warsaw, where she made her debut as the First Attendant of Dirce in Cherubini’s "Medea" and sang Papagena in Mozart’s "The Magic Flute." Since the 2024/25 season, she has been a member of the International Opera Studio at the Zürich Opera House, where she has performed roles including Nick in Penderbeyne’s "Wir pfeifen auf den Gurkenkönig," in Dove’s "Around the World in 80 Days," Najade ("Ariadne auf Naxos"), and the Boy in Mendelssohn’s "Elijah." This season, she will perform roles including the Dew Fairy ("Hänsel und Gretel") and Shepherd ("Tannhäuser").

Hänsel und Gretel16 / 20 / 23 / 28 / 30 Nov / 2 / 4 / 11 / 16 / 18 / 21 Dec 2025 / 2 / 24 / 25 / 31 Jan 2026 Der Rosenkavalier26 Sept / 1 / 5 / 14 / 17 / 21 / 26 Oct 2025 La rondine24 / 27 Sept / 1 / 10 / 15 Oct 2026 Concert Kinderopernorchester25 May / 1 / 13 / 18 / 21 Jun 2026

Cashlin Oostindië

Cashlin Oostindië is a Dutch mezzo-soprano. She received her training at the Amsterdam Conservatory and in Athens, as well as privately with Lauren Athey-Janka and Eva-Maria Westbroek. During her studies, she was a member of Young Opera Noord Holland, sang Marcellina ("Le nozze di Figaro"), participated in the chorus of Poulenc’s "Dialogues des Carmélites," and performed as a soloist at the Lefkas Music Week Festival in Greece. In concert, she has sung the alto parts in Bruckner’s "Requiem" and Rossini’s "Petite Messe solennelle." She regularly gives song recitals in the Netherlands with pianist Florence van der Does. Since the 2025/26 season, she has been a member of the International Opera Studio at the Zürich Opera House.

Rigoletto20 / 23 / 27 Dec 2025 / 1 / 4 Jan 2026 Der Rosenkavalier26 Sept / 1 / 5 / 14 / 17 / 21 / 26 Oct 2025 La rondine24 / 27 Sept / 1 / 10 / 15 Oct 2026 Die Walküre24 / 31 Jan / 3 / 6 Feb 2027 Angels in America7 / 9 / 19 / 21 / 23 May 2027 Gianni Schicchi2 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 13 May 2026 Elektra22 / 26 Nov / 2 / 5 / 10 / 13 / 16 Dec 2026 Concert Kinderopernorchester25 May / 1 / 13 / 18 / 21 Jun 2026

Thalia Cook-Hansen

Thalia Cook-Hansen, soprano, is from the USA. After studying voice in the USA and Canada, she completed her master’s degree at the Dutch National Opera Academy. She also attended masterclasses with, among others, Elliot Madore, Floris Visser, and Lynne Dawson. In Amsterdam, she performed roles such as Nerina in Haydn’s "La fedeltà premiata," Fanny in Rossini’s "La cambiale di matrimonio," Bastienne in Mozart’s "Bastien et Bastienne," and Adele in "Die Fledermaus." She sang Barbarina ("Le nozze di Figaro") at the Estates Theatre in Prague, as well as the First Lady ("The Magic Flute") and Mademoiselle Silberklang ("Der Schauspieldirektor") in Toronto. Her repertoire also includes roles such as Bubikopf in Viktor Ullmann’s "Der Kaiser von Atlantis," Singer No. 1 in Conrad Susa’s "Transformations," Amore in Monteverdi’s "Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria," and the title role in Donizetti’s "Lucia di Lammermoor." Since the 2025/26 season, she has been a member of the International Opera Studio at the Zürich Opera House.

Werther14 / 19 Jun / 1 / 4 / 10 Jul 2026 Der Rosenkavalier26 Sept / 1 / 5 / 14 / 17 / 21 / 26 Oct 2025 Macbeth8 / 11 / 14 / 19 / 22 / 30 Nov 2025 Gianni Schicchi2 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 13 May 2026 La rondine24 / 27 Sept / 1 / 10 / 15 Oct 2026 Tannhäuser26 Sept / 4 / 9 / 13 Oct 2026 Alice im Wunderland19 / 21 Nov / 6 Dec 2026 / 2 / 7 / 17 Jan 2027 Die lustige Witwe27 / 31 Dec 2026 / 3 / 7 / 10 / 13 Jan 2027 Angels in America7 / 9 / 19 / 21 / 23 May 2027 c-Moll-Messe17 Mar 2027 Concert Kinderopernorchester25 May / 1 / 13 / 18 / 21 Jun 2026

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Kinderopernorchester der Oper Zürich

Kinderchor der Oper Zürich

Kinderopernorchester der Oper Zürich

Cast

Kinderopernorcherster23 / 27 May / 7 / 19 / 20 Jun 2027 Concert Kinderopernorchester25 May / 1 / 13 / 18 / 21 Jun 2026

Kinderchor der Oper Zürich

Cast

Der Rosenkavalier21 / 26 Sept / 1 / 5 / 14 / 17 / 21 / 26 Oct 2025 La Damnation de Faust10 / 14 / 17 May 2026 Hänsel und Gretel16 / 20 / 23 / 28 / 30 Nov / 2 / 4 / 11 / 16 / 18 / 21 Dec 2025 / 2 / 24 / 25 / 31 Jan 2026 Carmen18 / 21 / 23 / 27 / 31 Jan 2026 La forza del destino2 / 7 / 12 / 15 / 18 / 21 / 26 / 29 Nov / 17 / 21 Dec 2025 Matthäus-Passion26 Mar 2026 Concert Kinderopernorchester25 May / 1 / 13 / 18 / 21 Jun 2026

Abstract

Guided by members of the orchestra and experienced music school teachers, more than 90 children rehearse excerpts from the operas "Carmen" and "Hänsel und Gretel" – repertoire that is usually performed only by professional orchestras. They work together with artists and experience the workings of an opera orchestra from the inside at the Zurich Opera House.

Over a period of ten months, they develop their musical skills and learn what it means to blend into an orchestral sound and become part of a larger whole. They take on responsibility within the ensemble in order to create music together and ultimately perform it under the musical direction of General Music Director Gianandrea Noseda and Ann-Katrin Stöcker, together with soloists and the Children’s Chorus of the Zurich Opera House.