Konwitschny is among the most notorious practitioners of the avant-garde Regieoper ("director's opera"). Among his productions are a graphically violent staging of Emmerich Kšlmšn's operetta Die Csšrdšsf‹rstin, which was quietly removed from repertoire of the State Opera of Saxony, Dresden, and a version of Die Meistersinger in Hamburg that came to a halt in the third act for an onstage discussion of Wagner and nationalism.

Vienna's Don Carlos stars Ren_ Pape as Philippe II, Ram‹n Vargas as Don Carlos, and Bo Skovhus as Rodrique. Bertrand de Billy conducts. The production runs through November 7 and returns in June.