Billy Budd

Britten's 'Billy Budd' returns to the Staatsoper with a new cast featuring celebrated Danish baritone Bo Skovhus in the title role which he first performed at the Houston Grand Opera in 1998. In his role début as Capitan Vere, American tenor Neil Schicoff will visit the Staatsoper for the first time since he famously refused to attend last year's Opera Ball in protest at the presence of the FPÖ in Austria's new government. The Phiharmonic will be conducted by Donald Runnicles, the Scottish-born music director of the San Francisco Opera, known for his interest in new music.