The opera programme features Rossini's comic opera Il Barbiere di Siviglia (July 27), Verdi's La Traviata (July 28), Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin (August 4), and rarely-seen Massenet's Werther (August 5). Along with the golden classics, Tchaikovsky's ballets Swan Lake (July 29) and The Sleeping Beauty (August 3), the LNO is presenting Shakespeare's versatile A Midsummer Night's Dream (July 30) with music by Mendelssohn – Bartholdy, and its latest ballet production The Lady of Camelias (August 6) with music by Liszt.

The young film director Aik Karapetian (Latvia) has turned Gioachino Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia into something darker and more cynical. The production has been nominated by audiences for the Kultūras Kilograms Award of the Latvian Television 1 programme "100 g kultūras". Karapetian and costume designer Kristīne Pasternaka have been also listed among the  nominees for the Annual Latvian Theatre Award. The July 27 show will be conducted by the Baroque music expert Andris Veismanis. The cast list includes Jānis Apeinis (Figaro), Viesturs Jansons (Count Almaviva) and Inga Šļubovska (Rosina).

Directed by LNO general director Andrejs Žagars (the summer season will see his three opera performances), Giuseppe Verdi's popular opera La Traviata will present soprano Sonora Vaice in her internationally-renowned role of Violetta, tenor Andris Ludvigs and opera's leading baritone Samsons Izjumovs. Conducting will be the new Latvian talent, Atvars Lakstīgala.

Žagars' production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin has received international acclaim. "Zagars has unceasing ability to probe deeply into character, tapping the deepest emotional nuances," according to Ópera Actual. The role of Tatyana will be performed by the emerging opera star Dinara Alieva (soprano, Azerbaijan), now a soloist at Moscow Bolshoi Theatre. Her enchanting talent has captivated many Russian conductors and even Monaco's Prince Rainier III. Among her attainments is 3rd prize at the Placido Domingo Operalia (2010) and an honorary medal from Irina Arkhipova Foundation. For Eugene Onegin, her stage partners will be baritone Vladimir Gromov (Belarus) and tenor Domagoj Dorotić (Chroatia).

Staged in cooperation with the Erfurt Theatre (Germany) under director A. Žagars, Jules Massenet's Werther features a highly romantic, passionate drama and beautiful, rich melodies. The cast list includes Italian tenor Raffaele Sepe (Werther) and internationally-awarded Polish soprano Malgorzata Panko (Charlotte). The LNO chief conductor Modestas Pitrenas directs.

The high quality of LNO is represented in its classical ballet productions. Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake will feature a performance of the opera's leading ballet dancers Viktorija Jansone (Odetta or White Swan) and Margarita Demjanoka (Odile or Black Swan), as well as Zigmārs Kirilko (Prince) and Ringolds Žigis (Rothbart). The Sleeping Beauty will present a performance of Sabīne Guravska as Princess Aurora and Sergei Neikshin as Prince Desire.

Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream, with choreography by Youri Vàmos (Hungary) and music by Mendelssohn - Bartholdy, features many erotic and comic moments. The adventures of the young Athenian lovers will be danced by Aleksei Avechkin, Jūlija Gurviča, Yuka Miyake, Elza Leimane-Martinova, Arturs Sokolovs, and Sergei Neikshin. Puck, Robin and Nick Bottom will be played by Intars Kleinhofs, Andris Pudāns and Ringolds Žigis.

Based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas (fils) and made famous by Verdi's La Traviata, The Lady of Camelias tells a story of the Parisian courtesan Marguerite Gautier and her lover Armand Duval. With choreography by Tiit Härm (Estonia) and music by Franz Liszt, the production will present Elza Leimane-Martinova and Raimonds Martinovs in the title roles, both nominated for the 2011 Latvian Theatre Award.

For more information on the LNO summer season's repertory go to www.liveriga.com