Shanghai Grand Opera House will open on Oct 17, and the first batch of tickets for four programs in its opening season went on sale on July 28.

The opening season will feature Tosca, Aida, Der Rosenkavalier, and the Shostakovich Symphonies Cycle. The three opera productions will make their Asian premieres in Shanghai, their only stop in China.

Performance highlights

Tosca

Giacomo Puccini's Tosca is among the world's most frequently performed Italian operas. Presented by Venice's Teatro La Fenice, this new production relocates the setting from 1800 to the 1950s and highlights themes of freedom and human nature. The production premiered at Teatro La Fenice in 2025.

• When: Oct 22 at 7:30 pm; Oct 24 at 2 pm
• Where: Harmony Hall
• Ticket prices: 80 yuan to 1,280 yuan (about $12 to $190)

Aida

Aida is one of Giuseppe Verdi's most celebrated Romantic operas and a landmark in the international opera repertoire. As 2026 marks the 125th anniversary of Verdi's death, the Mariinsky Theatre will bring its new production, which premiered in 2025, to Shanghai for its Asian premiere.

• When: Oct 30 and 31 at 7 pm; Nov 1 at 2 pm
• Where: Harmony Hall
• Ticket prices: 80 yuan to 1,280 yuan

Der Rosenkavalier

Der Rosenkavalier, one of Richard Strauss's most celebrated operas, is a regular feature at leading opera houses around the world. The Staatsoper Unter den Linden will bring the production to China with its original lineup for the first time, conducted by its general music director, Christian Thielemann.

• When: Nov 8 at 2:30 pm; Nov 10 and 12 at 6:30 pm
• Where: Harmony Hall
• Ticket prices: 80 yuan to 1,280 yuan

Shostakovich Symphonies Cycle

Russian conductor Valery Gergiev will lead the Mariinsky Orchestra in performances of all 15 symphonies by Dmitri Shostakovich, covering nearly half a century of the composer's work. Following their full Mahler symphony cycle in Shanghai last year, Gergiev and the orchestra are now returning for another significant orchestral program.

• When: Oct 23 to 28 at 7:30 pm; Oct 24 and 25 at 2 pm
• Where: Soar Theatre
• Ticket prices: 180 yuan to 1,280 yuan

Ticket information

Tickets are available through the Shanghai Grand Opera House's WeChat mini program and on authorized ticketing platforms, including Damai, Maoyan, Meituan, Dianping, and Piaoxingqiu.

A 10 percent discount is available on tickets priced at 888 yuan or above through 11:59 pm on Aug 3.

How to get there

Address: No 1 Yongzhan Road, Pudong New Area

Shanghai Grand Opera House is located on the bank of the Huangpu River, within the Shanghai Expo Culture Park. Take Metro Line 13 to Shibo Avenue Station or Line 7 to Houtan Station, then walk to the venue.

Sources: Shanghai Grand Opera House, Shanghai Morning Post