German opera, ballet and theatre organisation Theater Dortmund has announced that it will produce a new opera adapted from director Wim Wenders’ film Wings of Desire, with Elena Kats-Chernin commissioned as its composer.

Staged in honour of the Dortmund Opera House’s 60th anniversary, the opera will premiere on 14 May 2028 as part of its 2027–28 season. It will be directed by Martin G. Berger, who will also pen its libretto, with Mexican tenor and director Rolando Villazón set to take on a leading role.

Elena Kats-Chernin. Photo © Vicki Lauren

Wings of Desire, following a group of invisible angels in Berlin who comfort those in distress, earned Wenders the Best Director awards at the Cannes Film Festival and European Film Awards.

“Wim Wenders’ film remains an artistic benchmark to this day – for its poetic visual language as well as for its existential exploration of intimacy, longing, humanity, and transcendence,” wrote Theater Dortmund.

“With Elena Kats-Chernin, Martin G. Berger, and Rolando Villazón, three distinctive artistic voices converge in Dortmund, lending the project considerable weight even before the premiere.”

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