- Cast change: Betsy Horne replaces Vida Miknevičiūtė in the Richard Wagner Charity Gala on 9 Mai 2024.
In 2019, star tenor Andreas Schager and lawyer Turgay Schmidt founded the "Opera meets Nature" association. They had the idea of using opera as a means of sparking action on climate issues. The "Nibelungenwald" (Nibelungen Forest) project was created in the centre of Germany on an area of around one hectare, where oak and silver fir trees were planted. The first "Opera Meets Nature" charity gala, featuring works by Richard Wagner, will take place as part of the 2024 International May Festival. The gala features a star-studded cast: Andreas Schager will be joined by Tomasz Konieczny, Betsy Horne, Mika Kares, Magdalena Anna Hofmann, Corby Welch and special guest, violinist Lidia Baich. The Hessisches Staatsorchester Wiesbaden performs under the baton of Michael Güttler.