Keynote address for the Munich Opera Festival

To mark the 150th anniversary of the Munich Opera Festival, the festival revived its long-standing tradition of an opening address last year: During a grand ceremony at the Nationaltheater, Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, delivered the keynote address. In 2026, the festival will once again open with a keynote address, to be delivered in English by the internationally acclaimed artist Jeff Koons at the Prinzregententheater. The musical program will be presented by the Bayerische Staatsorchester and vocal soloists and will be announced at a later date.

Richard Wagner (1813–1883)
Prelude to Tristan und Isolde
(Arrangement for 2 violins, viola, 2 cellos, double bass, and piano by Engelbert Humperdinck)
Langsam und schmachtend

Welcome address
General Manager Serge Dorny

Irving Berlin (1888–1989)
Puttin’ on the Ritz
(Arrangement for Brass Quintet von Stephen Robert)

Kurt Weill (1900–1950)
„Speak Low“ from One Touch of Venus

Margaret Bonds (1913–1972)
African-American Spirituals

George Gershwin (1898-1937)
„I Got Rhythm“ (from the Musical Girl Crazy)

Keynote speach
Jeff Koons

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957)
„Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen“. Fritz's aria from Die tote Stadt

Richard Strauss (1864–1949)
Prelude (String sextet) from Capriccio
Andante con moto