Opernfestspiele Heidenheim (OH!)

Festivals at the Castle

The Opernfestspiele Heidenheim — OH! for short — are one of the most renowned opera festivals in Southern Germany and have been held annually in the city of Heidenheim on the Brenz since 1964. The venues are the medieval Knights' Hall of Hellenstein Castle, a hilltop castle complex above the Brenz valley, and the CCH Festival Hall (Congresszentrum Heidenheim) in the city center. This dual venue allows for atmospheric open-air productions in the Knights' Hall as well as prestigious indoor performances in the modern Festival Hall. The 2026 season runs from June 6 to July 26 and is themed “MachtMenschen!” — a connection of power and humanity, which is thematically central to Verdi's great tragic operas.

Otello — Verdi's Late Masterpiece

The program's focus in 2026 is Giuseppe Verdi's “Otello” (1887) — the composer's penultimate opera and one of the most important works of Italian late Romanticism. Based on Shakespeare's drama, the work combines brutal psychological depth (Iago's manipulation), a love tragedy (Otello and Desdemona), and a particularly intense musical language. Premiere on Friday, July 3, 2026, at 8:00 PM in the Knights' Hall of Hellenstein Castle. Further performances in the Knights' Hall and CCH Festival Hall until July 25. The production is overseen by a renowned directing team; the festival orchestra, under the musical direction of Marcus Bosch, interprets the score.

Macbeth — Verdi's Early Shakespeare Opera

The second Verdi opera on the program is “Macbeth” (1847) — Verdi's early engagement with Shakespeare, long before “Otello” and “Falstaff”. Premiere on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the CCH Festival Hall. Macbeth combines Verdi's early stylistic elements (Bel Canto tradition) with an unusually dark atmosphere for its time — the witches' scenes, the regicide, Lady Macbeth's descent into madness. Together, the two Verdi operas present the OH! 2026 season as a double feature on power, guilt, and their consequences.

Young Opera — Holle!

Families will find a special offering: From June 24 to July 4, “HOLLE!” will be performed — a family opera for children aged 5 and up, based on the Grimm fairy tale “Frau Holle”. Several performances on different days with child-friendly running times (approx. 60 minutes), with educational introductions before each performance. The Junge Oper Heidenheim has been an important element of OH! for many years — it opens the festival to the next generation and allows children to experience opera as a living art form.

Opening on June 6 and Gala Concerts

The season opens on Saturday, June 6, 2026, with the event “Hot Beats and Cool Drinks” — an opening format with a concert, DJ, and drinks in the Festival Hall lounge. On Sunday, June 7, the “Schlossberg Adventure Day” takes place — a community festival on the Schlossberg with guided tours, music, and family activities. Throughout the season, concerts, jazz galas, church concerts, and an opening concert “DAS HIMMLISCHE LEBEN” (June 12) complement the program.

Contact and Tickets

Organizer: Opernfestspiele Heidenheim, Grabenstraße 15, 89522 Heidenheim. Ticket hotline: 07321 327-7777. Tickets online via opernfestspiele.eventim-inhouse.de. Prices vary by category and venue: Knights' Hall Hellenstein Castle from 45 EUR, CCH Festival Hall from 55 EUR, premium seats up to 150 EUR. Young Opera HOLLE! Family tickets discounted from 25 EUR.