Revolution, love, and social tensions: with Albert Lortzing's opera "Regina," the Leipzig Opera is staging a rarely performed work that combines the political upheavals of the period around 1848 with a moving love story.
Albert Lortzing's opera "Regina" was written in 1848 – a time of political upheaval and revolutionary movements throughout Europe. These historical events also form the backdrop to the plot: the story centers on Regina, the daughter of factory owner Simon, who is courted by two factory workers who are on opposite sides of the political divide.
The radical Stephan takes part in a workers' uprising and eventually occupies the factory, taking Regina hostage. Her fiancé Richard, on the other hand, advocates a more peaceful approach and tries to defuse the escalating situation. Caught between political ideology, personal passion, and social conflict, everyone involved is drawn into a dramatic maelstrom.
With "Regina," Lortzing created an unusually political opera that brings the social tensions of the time directly to the stage. For a long time, the work was rarely performed or even censored due to its revolutionary content. Today, it seems more relevant than ever—as musical theater about freedom, responsibility, and the hope for social equality.
Premiere April 25,
Further performances: May 2, 13, and 17, June 12, 2026
