The Barcelona-based Teatro Liceu held a press conference on Friday afternoon to showcase what it had in store for the 17-18 season and revealed a major surprise.

Among its many entries, the company announced that Dmitri Hvorostovsky would be performing two operas next season including “Un Ballo in Maschera” and “The Demon.” The news comes as a huge surprise considering that the baritone recently stated that he would no longer be performing in opera productions for the foreseeable future.

Aside from that big story, the company announced that it will showcase 13 operas throughout the season starting with Rossini’s “Il Viaggio a Reims” in September with Irina Lungu and Lawrence Brownlee leading a cast of young artists. Emilio Sagi directs the new production while Giacomo Sagripanti conducts.

Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” kicks off the season in October with Piotr Beczala, Hvorostovsky, Dolora Zajick and Ekaterina Metlova in the main cast. Maria José Sirí was also announced as performing the work. The new production will be directed by Vincent Boussard.

A new production of “Tristan und Isolde” by Alex Olle of La Fura del Baus will start up in November with Stefan Vinke and Iréne Theorin in the title roles.

That will be followed by a concert of “L’Incoronazione di Poppea” to celebrate Monteverdi’s 450’s anniversary.

In January, Barcelona audiences will get to see “L’Elisir d’amore” conducted by Ramon Tébar with Jessica Pratt and Pavol Breslik in his Barcelona debut.

A concert of Donizetti’s “Poliuto” starring Sondra Radvanovsky and Gregory Kunde will take place in January, promptly followed by Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” starring Aida Garifulina and Samir Pirgu. The new production will be directed by Steven Lawless and is set during the American Civil War.

Jonas Kaufmann will return to Spain for the first time since 2011 when he debuted in “Fidelio” in Valencia. This time around he will take on Giordano’s “Andrea Chenier” alongside Sondra Radvanovsky and Carlos Alvarez in a new co-production with the Royal Opera House. Anna Tomowa-Sintow sings La Madelon in luxury casting.

Sir William Christie will conduct a performance of Handel’s “Ariodante” starting Kate Lindsay and Christoph Dumaux.

Two concerts of Verdi’s “Atilla” will take place in April starring Ildar Abdrazakov and Anna Pirozzi.

“The Demon” by Anton Rubenstein gets a belated premiere in April starring Hvorostovsky.

“Manon Lescaut” follows, starring Liudmyla Monastyrska, Maria Pia Piscitelli, David Bizic, Gregory Kunde, Jorge de Léon and Rafael Dávila.

The season concludes with “La Favorite” starring Stephen Costello, Michael Spyres and Clémentine Margaine in the title role.

Plácido Domingo will also be performing a concert.