Henze's "The English Cat" Premieres in German in Munich

The Bayerische Staatsoper presents the German version of Henze's opera based on a Balzac novel adapted by Edward Bond.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Bayerische Staatsoper has presented the German-language version of Hans Werner Henze's opera "The English Cat" ("Die englische Katze"), which is based on a French novel by Honoré de Balzac and adapted for the stage by English playwright Edward Bond. The opera has had an international and multilingual performance history since its 1983 premiere in Schwetzingen, Germany. The Munich production, directed by Christiane Lutz, featured a talented cast from the Staatsoper's Opera Studio young artists' program.

Why it matters

Henze's English-language works have often been presented in German translations in Germany, raising questions about the balance between preserving the original language and making the work accessible to local audiences. The decision to perform "The English Cat" in German at the Cuvilliés-Theater, a historic venue, also connects the opera to Mozart's "Idomeneo," which premiered there in 1781.

The details

The opera, which Henze described as a "Victorian comedy of manners," follows the story of a group of cats in London who form a "Royal Society for the Preservation of Rats" as a front for their own mercenary interests. The production chose not to depict the cats visually as animals, but the libretto's references to their true nature as cats were still evident. The excellent cast, led by Seonwoo Lee as Minette and Armand Rabot as Tom, brought Henze's eclectic and expressive music to life under the baton of Katharina Wincor.

  • The opera premiered in its German translation "Die englische Katze" at the Cuvilliés-Theater in Munich on January 25, 2026.
  • The original German premiere was at the Schwetzingen Festival in 1983, followed by a French translation at the Opéra Comique in Paris in 1984 and the English-language premiere at the Santa Fe Opera in 1985.

The players

Hans Werner Henze

A German composer who wrote the music for "The English Cat," drawing on a variety of influences including Mozart, Berg, and Stravinsky.

Edward Bond

An English playwright who adapted Honoré de Balzac's French novel for the opera's libretto.

Christiane Lutz

The director of the Bayerische Staatsoper's production of "The English Cat" in Munich.

Katharina Wincor

The conductor who led the Bayerische Staatsorchester in the Munich performance of "The English Cat."

Seonwoo Lee

The soprano who portrayed the role of Minette in the Munich production.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Henze recalled in his memoir Bohemian Fifths that, on receiving the libretto from Bond and reading it to his 'assembled household' at Marino, he had found it 'quite different' from his first encounter with something closer to the original, a dramatisation by Geneviève Serrault for a company of Argentinian actors. It was 'far more witty, far more relevant in terms of social criticism. It could have been subtitled L'argent fait tout …. It was no longer a fairy-tale play but a Victorian comedy of manners.'”

— Hans Werner Henze, Composer

What’s next

The Bayerische Staatsoper is expected to continue presenting Henze's works in the composer's centenary year, potentially including more productions of "The English Cat" or other English-language operas by Henze in German translation.

The takeaway

Henze's "The English Cat" demonstrates the composer's ability to blend diverse influences, from Mozart to Brecht, into a cohesive and compelling operatic work. The Bayerische Staatsoper's decision to present the German-language version highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities in translating and adapting works for local audiences.