This December 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, and 19, Thomas Hampson returns to La Monnaie for Fanny and Alexander, a new opera from composer Mikael Karlsson and librettist Royce Vavrek. Based on Ingmar Bergman’s semi-autobiographical film, Fanny och Alexander (1982), the opera reflects on how the lives of two children are forever changed after the death of their father. Hampson creates the role of the stern Bishop Edvard Vergerus, alongside a large ensemble cast that includes Anne Sofie von Otter, Sasha Cooke, Susan Bullock, and Peter Tantsits. Ariane Matiakh conducts Ivo van Hove’s production. On December 13, there will be a live broadcast of Fanny and Alexander on Mezzo Live, medici.tv, and Musiq3.

Photo: Matthias Baus