
Hailed by the Telegraph as “the greatest soprano in the world,” Lise Davidsen has listeners flocking to hear her wherever she sings—a following that has only grown since her memorable Cal Performances debut during the 2024–25 season. Her return to Berkeley arrives amid a remarkable year for this singular artist, including her long-awaited role debut as Isolde in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera and Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu in two stunning productions created expressly for her, each rapturously received.
Here, she and recital partner James Baillieu—one of the leading song pianists of his generation—bring a program featuring works by Bach, Reger, and Richard Strauss alongside Wagner’s Tristan-imbued Wesendonck Lieder, all capped off with a glorious selection of traditional Christmas favorites sung in English, German, Italian, and, of course, Davidsen’s native Norwegian.
“The radiating, shimmering … overtones that halo her voice make [Davidsen] sound arrestingly powerful and visceral. You feel it as almost physical presence—pressing against your chest, raising the hairs on the back of your neck.”—The New York Times
| R. STRAUSS | “Wiegenlied,” from 5 Lieder, Op. 41 |
| BACH/GOUNOD | Ave Maria |
| REGER | Mariä Wiegenlied |
| PRAETORIUS/TRADITIONAL NORWEGIAN | Det hev ei rose sprunge |
| WAGNER | Wesendonck Lieder |
| TRADITIONAL/MENDELSSOHN (arr. Douglas) | Hark the Herald Angels Sing |
| TRADITIONAL ENGLISH (arr. Henderson) | The First Noel |
| GRUBER | Silent Night |
| BACH | Jesu bleibet meine Freude |
| TRADITIONAL | O Come, All Ye Faithful |
| BRORSON | Mitt hjerte alltid vanker |
| VERDI | “Ave Maria,” from Otello |
| TRADITIONAL NORWEGIAN | Deilig er jorden |
| TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH | Auld Lang Syne |
| ADAM | O Helga natt |
Program notes will be available approximately one week before the performance.
7:30pm
There is a $20 service charge on all subscription orders, and a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription.
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2026–27 Season Guides
Some of you want your mind blown. Some want your heart broken. Some want to see a legend before they stop touring. Whatever brings you through those doors, we’ve built a guide for it. Explore the six patron guides below to find the performances that were made for you!
7:30pm
There is a $20 service charge on all subscription orders, and a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription.
2026–27 Season Subscriptions go on sale noon May 5
Single tickets for 2026–27 Season events go on sale at noon Aug 11








