Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Returns to Bucharest National Opera House

One of the most beloved ballets of all time, Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, returns to the stage of the Bucharest National Opera House this May, as part of a vibrant cultural lineup that follows the official launch of the International Week of New Music.

After a remarkable opening weekend (May 17–18), marked by the world premiere of D’ale carnavalului by Dan Dediu—an operatic adaptation of Ion Luca Caragiale’s iconic comedy—the Romanian National Opera continues to captivate its audiences between May 19–25 with a rich selection of contemporary dance, opera, and ballet performances.

Performances This Week at the National Opera House:

• Wednesday, May 21 – La piață. Revuluția by Mihail Jora and Adrian Iorgulescu

• Friday, May 23 – Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

• Saturday, May 24 – The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Sunday, May 25 – Tango. Radio and Juliet by Edward Clug

Swan Lake – Friday, May 23, 6:30 PM

Under the baton of conductor Iurie Florea, the timeless fairytale of Odette, the princess turned into a swan, will come alive once again in a spectacular gala performance. Based on a legendary Russian-German folktale, Swan Lake is a masterpiece that continues to enchant audiences across generations and remains one of Tchaikovsky’s most celebrated creations.

La piață. Revuluția – Wednesday, May 21, 6:30 PM

Conducted by Cristian Mandeal, this diptych production combines the ballet La piață by Mihail Jora and the opera Revuluția by Adrian Iorgulescu, brought to life by director Alexandru Nagy and choreographer Sandra Mavhima. The show reflects on Romania’s recent history, notably the 1989 Revolution, and features a unique ecological element: it is the first opera and ballet production staged using recycled materials, supported by the Ludovic Spiess Experimental Studio and ENVIRON Association.

The Marriage of Figaro – Saturday, May 24, 6:30 PM

Mozart’s comic opera, first premiered in Vienna in 1786 with the Emperor’s blessing, returns in a visually striking staging directed by Sir David Pountney. The performance explores the vibrant and rebellious spirit of the original work, which was once limited to just nine performances due to its overwhelming popularity and demand for encores.

Tango. Radio and Juliet – Sunday, May 25, 6:30 PM

This contemporary dance coupé brings together two acclaimed choreographies by Edward Clug, the Romanian-born choreographer leading the Maribor National Theatre Ballet in Slovenia. Tango (1998) and Radio and Juliet (2005) merge elements of theatre and contemporary dance, set to an eclectic soundtrack from Astor Piazzolla to Goran Bregović and Radiohead.

️ Tickets available at: tickets.operanb.ro or at the Bucharest National Opera House Box Office.
Address: Bulevardul Mihail Kogălniceanu 70-72, Bucharest