Performer: Dutch National Opera

Two world premieres at Dutch National Opera speak to what have traditionally been two separate audiences: the audience within the opera house and the one without.

Inspired by Annie Ernaux’s The Years, Philip Venables’ new opera widens the canvas to take in the whole of Europe’s postwar generation. 

Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus, was never meant to challenge grand opera for profundity and Barrie Kosky pokes fun at Viennese high society in his riotous staging. 

Soprano Elena Stikhina is in demand at the world's major opera houses. Isabella Steppan meets her in Salzburg to discuss the role of Tosca – which she is currently singing in Amsterdam and Vienna – and the reality of life as an opera singer.

We preview nine major new operas on stage this season in Europe, from composers including Unsuk Chin, Rebecca Saunders, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Philip Venables and Toshio Hosokawa.

Audiences, energy prices, politics, sustainability... With nearly 400 opera executives assembled in Copenhagen, the Opera Europa autumn conference was the ideal venue to take the temperature of the opera industry.