Emily Hehl

Emily Hehl, a visionary director recognized for her thoughtful approach and multidisciplinary collaborations, has rapidly ascended as a prominent figure in the world of opera and theatre. Her most recent productions include La Bohème at Landestheater Coburg and Rigoletto at Theater Freiburg. In the 2023/24 season, she directed Les Deux at the Theater im Palais Graz and opened the inaugural season of the new artistic administration at the Aalto Theater Essen with Verdi’s Macbeth. Her work that season also included the German premiere of Augusta Holmès’ La Montagne Noire at Oper Dortmund, which was nominated as a “rediscovered work” at the International Opera Awards. Earlier projects include her direction of Benjamin Britten’s Curlew River at Landesbühnen Sachsen and her contribution to the world premiere of Bernhard Lang’s Der Hetzer at Oper Dortmund, collaborating with Kai Anne Schuhmacher on its scenic development.

In Brussels, Emily Hehl has been closely involved with Needcompany, engaging in diverse projects across the performing arts. Notable productions arising from this collaboration as an Associate Director with Jan Lauwers include Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito and Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre at the Wiener Staatsoper, described as “bold and surreal staging... A musical triumph, enthusiastically applauded by the audience” (BR-Klassik) and praised for its inventive visual and narrative layers. At the Salzburg Festival, she worked on Intolleranza 1960, noted for its “immersive and politically charged storytelling” (BR Klassik), which resonated with contemporary social issues. Additionally, she contributedv to AMOPERA, a meta-opera developed in partnership with Klangforum Wien, which was recognized as “a cutting-edge blend of dystopian themes and musical innovation” (Der Standard).

From 2024-2026, Emily Hehl served as stellvertretende Oberspielleiterin at Wiener Staatsoper.