Emily Hehl, a visionary director recognized for her thoughtful approach and multidisciplinary collaborations, has rapidly ascended as a prominent figure in the world of opera and theatre. In the 2023/24 season, she directed Les Deux at the Theater im Palais Graz and opened the inaugural season of the new artistic administration at the Aalto Theater Essen with Verdi’s Macbeth. Her work that season also included the German premiere of Augusta Holmès’ La Montagne Noire at Oper Dortmund, which was nominated as a “rediscovered work” at the International Opera Awards . Earlier projects include her direction of Benjamin Britten’s Curlew River at Landesbühnen Sachsen and her contribution to the world premiere of Bernhard Lang’s Der Hetzer at Oper Dortmund, collaborating with Kai Anne Schuhmacher on its scenic development.

In Brussels, Emily Hehl has been closely involved with Needcompany, engaging in diverse projects across the performing arts. Notable productions arising from this collaboration with Jan Lauwers include Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre at the Wiener Staatsoper, described as “bold and surreal staging... A musical triumph, enthusiastically applauded by the audience” (BR-Klassik) and praised for its inventive visual and narrative layers. At the Salzburg Festival, she worked on Intolleranza 1960, noted for its “immersive and politically charged storytelling” (BR-Klassik), which resonated with contemporary social issues. Additionally, she contributed to AMOPERA, a meta-opera developed in partnership with Klangforum Wien, which was recognized as “a cutting-edge blend of dystopian themes and musical innovation” (Der Standard).

As an assistant director, Emily Hehl has gained valuable experience working with renowned artists such as Jan Lauwers, Achim Freyer, Barrie Kosky, Christof Loy, and Andreas Homoki at leading institutions including the Komische Oper Berlin, Opéra de Dijon, Opernhaus Zürich, and the Salzburg Festival. Further contributions include work on productions by Milo Rau, Tatjana Gürbaca, and Sebastian Baumgarten at venues such as Aalto Theater Essen and Theater an der Wien.

Currently, Emily Hehl serves as the stellvertretende Oberspielleiterin at the Wiener Staatsoper.