Den Jyske Opera, also known as the Danish National Opera, was founded in Aarhus in 1947 and is Denmark's largest touring opera company, second only to the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen. Since 1976 it has held the status of a national touring company, performing each season with the five regional symphony orchestras at venues across the country. Based at Musikhuset Aarhus and funded by the Danish Ministry of Culture, it maintains a permanent chorus and a staff of 60, with a repertoire ranging from Wagner and Verdi to new Danish music theatre.
Den Jyske Opera announced the 2026-27 season with Carmen and Maskarade as the two major touring titles.
The Barber of Seville is performed as a free outdoor opera on the bed of a truck in summer 2026 - a new audience-friendly format under opera director Anne Barslev's leadership.
Mozart's Don Juan premiered on 25 February 2026 at Musikhuset Aarhus and subsequently toured the country until April 2026.
Verdi's La Traviata premiered on 19 August 2025 at Musikhuset Aarhus and toured the country until November 2025.
Opera director Anne Barslev took office as new opera director on 1 May 2024 and succeeded Philipp Kochheim, who had led the company for seven years.
A conversation exploring Bizet's Carmen and modern femicide, featuring criminal psychologist Charlotte Kappel and director Johanne Holten, with performances by singers from Den Jyske Opera.
Bizet's classic opera Carmen performed by Den Jyske Opera and Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester in Sønderborg.