CIM Opera Theater Unveils an Adventurous 2026-27 Season Under New Director François Germain

The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) is proud to announce its 2026-27 CIM Opera Theater season; a year of sweeping journeys, mystery, magic, and innovation that also marks the inaugural season of Dr. François Germain as Director of CIM Opera Theater and Voice Ensembles. 

Appointed earlier this year, Germain brings a wealth of artistic and pedagogical experience to the role. He will continue to serve as Professor of Voice Studies while leading a dynamic season that showcases beloved masterworks, contemporary gems, and exciting opportunities for student artists. 

From the lush Amazon rainforest to an enigmatic murder mystery and one of opera’s most cherished fairy tales, the 2026-27 season promises unforgettable experiences for audiences and performers alike. 

The season opens November 6 and 8 with Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, transforming Kulas Hall into a world of breathtaking beauty and magical realism. Conducted by longtime CIM Opera Theater Music Director Harry Davidson and directed by acclaimed stage director Alison Moritz, this captivating opera follows a legendary singer and her fellow travelers on a journey through the Amazon, where fantasy and reality blur in unexpected ways. 

Florencia en el Amazonas was the first Spanish-language opera commissioned by major American opera companies. Inspired by the literary style of Gabriel García Márquez and featuring a libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain, the work has become one of the most celebrated operas of the modern repertoire. 

Tickets for the performance range from $25 to $35. To purchase tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance on Nov. 6, visit tinyurl.com/friflorencia. To purchase tickets for the 3 p.m. performance on Nov. 8, visit tinyurl.com/sunflorencia.

The season continues February 5 and 7 with Jonathan Sheffer’s Blood on the Dining Room Floor in Mixon Hall, a suspenseful and unconventional opera that invites audiences to unravel a mystery inspired by Gertrude Stein’s 1948 novella. CIM Principal Guest Conductor Anthony Parnther leads the production, with 2026-27 CIM Artist in Residence Marc Callahan serving as stage director. 

Originally produced off-Broadway in 2000, Blood on the Dining Room Floor received the Richard Rodgers Production Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and remains a fascinating blend of mystery, wit, and theatrical intrigue. 

Tickets for the performance cost $15. To purchase tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance on Feb. 5, visit tinyurl.com/fridining. To purchase tickets for the 3 p.m. performance on Feb. 7, visit tinyurl.com/sundining.

The spring production, presented April 16 and 18, brings one of opera’s most beloved adventures to the Kulas Hall stage: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute). Conducted by Harry Davidson and directed by internationally recognized Amy Hutchison, this timeless masterpiece follows a heroic quest filled with enchanted creatures, trials of courage, and some of opera’s most memorable music. 

Premiering in Vienna in 1791, The Magic Flute remains one of the most enduring works in the operatic canon. Its imaginative story — drawn from folklore, mythology, and Enlightenment ideals — continues to captivate audiences more than two centuries after its debut. 

Tickets for the performance range from $25 to $35. To purchase tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance on April 16, visit tinyurl.com/friflute. To purchase tickets for the 3 p.m. performance on April 18, visit tinyurl.com/sunflute.

In addition to its three fully staged operas, CIM Opera Theater will present two distinctive performance projects that highlight the breadth of its artistic programming. 

The season’s innovative Micro-Operas performances, scheduled for April 2 and 4 in Mixon Hall, will spotlight newly created works developed through a collaboration between CIM Opera Theater, the Composition Department, and the New Music Ensemble. Led by Dr. Keith Fitch, Director of Contemporary Music Program and Ensembles, these performances offer audiences a chance to experience the next generation of operatic storytelling. 

While the performances are free, registration is required. To register for tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance on April 2, visit tinyurl.com/frimicro. To register for tickets for the 4 p.m. performance on April 4, visit tinyurl.com/sun-micro.

Fall Scenes, taking place December 4 and 6 in Kulas Hall, will showcase compelling excerpts from a variety of operatic works. The production will be stage directed by CIM assistant professor of voice Cynthia Skelley-Wohlschlager, with music directors François Germain and John Simmons. 

While the performances are free, registration is required. To register for tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance on December 4, visit tinyurl.com/friscenes. To register for tickets for the 3 p.m. performance on December 6, visit tinyurl.com/sunscenes.

Of his inaugural season, Germain shared: “This season embodies everything we strive for at CIM Opera Theater: a wide-ranging repertoire, enduring artistic partnerships, and meaningful connections to the professional opera world. I am excited to welcome exceptional stage directors alongside our longtime conducting collaborators as we create transformative experiences for both our students and our audiences.”  

"At CIM, we believe opera should both illuminate tradition and be a catalyst for innovation,” added CIM Executive Vice President and Provost Scott Harrison. “Our students engage deeply with canonic works while also helping to shape the future of the art form. This season reflects that commitment to presenting opera as a living, evolving form of storytelling that continues to surprise, inspire, and connect with contemporary audiences." 

These productions reflect CIM Opera Theater’s commitment to artistic excellence, creative exploration, and the development of emerging performers. Under Germain’s leadership, the 2026–27 season invites audiences on a remarkable journey through worlds both familiar and unexpected.