LULU

EURYDICE

PUZZLES&
GAMES

CHESHIRE CAT

LULU

Alban Berg

The Role

Production Details

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The Role

One of the most demanding roles of high-soprano repertoire, Lulu is a character who demands everything from a performer, combines the challenges of thick orchestral writing, high and also low lying vocal passages, and the puzzling one of a kind text by Wedekind, and the sheer density and length of the role.

Production Details

In the 2026 new production by Jens-Daniel Herzog at Staatstheater Nürnberg, the dark-comedic aspect of the source material was emphasized. The dense score was treated with care by conductor Roland Kluttig, who specializes in interpretations of Berg’s repertoire. The set and costume design by Matthis Neidhardt and Sybille Gädecke, respectively, supported the action-driven production with a sense of minimalism and modernity which brought the story into the feeling of now.

In 2023, a new production was mounted by director Eva-Maria Höckmayr at Staatstheater Darmstadt. Her surrealist and minimalistic approach centered the figure of Lulu in the middle of the stage, namely on a small white pedestal (set design by Paul Zoller), with the period-costumed gentlemen of the piece revolving around her on concentric turntables (costume design by Julia Rösler). The spacial poetry of the production strengthened Wedekind’s drama, and gave the Berg composition its space to resonate- masterfully conducted by Daniel Cohen.

  • "In short: a triumph."

    BR-KLASSIK

  • “The brilliant… Juliana Zara, whose soprano sounds glassy clear, high, pure and at the same time completely unstrained, plays a terrifically noncommittal Lulu who is nevertheless devoted, in that uniquely Lulu-like way.”

    OPERNWELT

  • "Zara possesses a presence that hovers between erotic shimmer and childlike lightness, which, combined with her exceptional voice, makes her ideal casting for Lulu."

    BR-KLASSIK

  • “Vocally and dramatically, Zara can do everything. And she does do everything. ”

    SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG

PUZZLES&
GAMES

Unsuk Chin

The Piece

Past Appearances

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The Piece

For soprano and full orchestra (or chamber orchestra) Puzzles and Games is 30 minute journey through Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland as told by the characters themselves. This show stopping piece asks the performer to sing many characters of the Alice cohort, Alice herself, the cruel Duchess, the mysterious Cheshire Cat, and more. It is a true tour-de-force featuring coloratura, sprechstimme, true piani and tight ensemble playing by the orchestra.

Past Appearances

Debut with Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, Portugal in October 2026 conducted by Paweł Kapula

Debut at Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra in spring 2026 with Music Director Earl Lee conducting

Munich Chamber Orchestra in November 2025 at Prinzregententheater conducted by Enrico Onofri

Debut at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2024 with Sejong Soloists and Earl Lee conducting

  • "Ms. Zara didn't simply manage it, she triumphed over it."

    OBERON’S GROVE

  • "She enchanted in the ‘Dada’ songs with her uniquely colored voice, at times velvety, at times ringing like a bell.”

    MÜNCHENER MERKUR

  • “American soprano Juliana Zara, who's spent much of her career in Europe, delivered a wild, no-holds-barred performance..."

    FEAST OF MUSIC

  • "Ms. Zara never seemed daunted by the vocal writing: in fact, she seemed to revel in it."

    OBERON’S GROVE

EURYDICE

Offenbach’s Orpheus in der Unterwelt

The Role

Production Details

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