The Darmstadt State Theatre is in the final of the “Rediscovered Work” category with Felix Weingartner’s rediscovered opera
Felix Weingartner's opera "Cain and Abel" has been nominated for the 2026 International Opera Awards . The production by the Staatstheater Darmstadt is a finalist in the "Rediscovered Work" category. The awards will be presented on November 21 at the MusikTheater an der Wien.
The opera premiered in Darmstadt in 1914. More than 100 years later, General Music Director Daniel Cohen brought the long-unperformed work back to the stage. The premiere took place on March 28, 2026, with the Darmstadt State Orchestra and the opera ensemble.
"Cain and Abel" back on stage after more than 100 years
Weingartner's one-act opera tells the family story surrounding the Old Testament fratricide. At the State Theatre, this was adapted into the double bill "Cain and Abel – From the Depths." Alongside the opera, Lili Boulanger's choral composition "Du fond de l'abîme," written during the same period, was performed. Kerem Hillel directed.
“How wonderful that the magnificent musical and scenic power of our rediscovery of Weingartner’s ‘Cain and Abel’ has now been nominated for the International Opera Awards 2026,” says Artistic Director Karsten Wiegand.
General Music Director Daniel Cohen describes the opera as a work of remarkable power and imagination. He hopes that its rediscovery, performance, and recording will help to breathe new life into the work and make it accessible to contemporary audiences and musicians.
International Opera Awards with eight finalists in the category
The International Opera Awards were established in 2012 and honor opera creators and productions from around the world in 20 categories. According to a press release, in addition to the Staatstheater Darmstadt, seven other opera houses and festivals are nominated in the "Rediscovered Work" category. These include the Opéra de Paris, the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, and the National Theatre Prague.
Under the direction of Daniel Cohen, the Darmstadt State Orchestra and the opera ensemble have also recorded "Cain and Abel" on CD. The recording is scheduled for release on June 17, 2027, by the classical label cpo.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM/Mariela Milkowa)
Featured image: Heiko Börner and Megan Marie Hart. Photo: Nils Heck
