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Lohengrin

The 10 theatre performances you actually wanted to see in 2014, even if you had to leave Amsterdam for half of them

by Henri Drost
27 December 201411 July 2016
3 min read
ACTUAL, MUSIC, OPERA, THEATER

It's raining annual lists and we're merrily joining in. As subjective as anyone, after all, no one sees everything, and opinions on taste can always differ. Of course, also in this list many performances in or from the Randstad, but half of them were not yet shown there. And all genres mixed together. As long as it is theatre. With the only limitation: no repeats, apologies Ring and Lohengrin (DNO), St John Passion (NRO). And no dance, because for that our partner dance audience.

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Vergeet die zwaan. Maar waar is Lohengrin? ****

by Henri Drost
18 November 201429 March 2022
4 min read
For members only, OPERA

Die sterren bij recensies. Ik wil nou wel eens weten hoe je daaraan komt. Leg uit.

Goed. De eerste dertig minuten van Wagners Lohengrin bij De Nationale Opera zijn onvergetelijk. Eerst het Vorspiel met gesloten doek, hartverscheurend mooi gespeeld door het Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest dat onder leiding van Marc Albrecht aan elke nuance recht doet. Sinds Abbado hoorden we het niet zo indrukwekkend en…

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Monumentale beeldende kunst zien? Ga naar de opera!

by Henri Drost
10 November 201411 July 2016
4 min read
IMAGING, OPERA

Voor beeldende kunst ga je naar het museum, zeker in Amsterdam en zeker nu alle musea weer geopend zijn. Maar er is ook een andere mogelijkheid: de opera. Daar zie je beeldende kunst die in geen enkel museum past, zelfs niet in de grootste zaal van het Rijksmuseum. Neem de Griekse beeldhouwer Jannis Kounellis. Vanaf vandaag is zijn werk een…

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Meistersinger @HollandFestival convinces musically only

by Henri Drost
6 June 20138 July 2016
2 min read
Holland Festival, MUSIC, OPERA, SPECIALS

Holland Festival

Cowardly knight defeats untalented rule fetishist with help from wise cobbler and wins singing contest and the hand of coquettish goldsmith's daughter. Or: boy meets girl on the streets of Nuremberg and decides to enter the local version of Nuremberg's got talent. The judges send him away, but he gets the audience vote. Wagner wouldn't be Wagner, however, if he didn't take about five hours for this story.

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Wagner in Düsseldorf: operarel of publiciteitsstunt?

by Henri Drost
10 May 201330 March 2022
3 min read
ACTUAL, For members only, MUSIC, OPERA

Wanneer zowel nu.nl, het BBC-nieuws en vrijwel elke Duitse krant gelijktijdig aandacht aan een opera besteden moet er wel iets aan de hand zijn. En dat is ook zo: nazi’s! Wagner! Woedende toeschouwers! Meer dan dat: artsen moesten erbij geroepen!

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Iván Fischer sets new Wagner standard

by Henri Drost
13 June 201229 March 2022
4 min read
ACTUAL, For members only, MUSIC, OPERA

That Pierre Audi does not shy away from religious symbolism is well known, but the true miracle in The Netherlands Opera's Parsifal is in the pit. There, in the hands of master conductor Iván Fischer, the Concertgebouw Orchestra sets a new Wagner standard. Despite a gigantic orchestral strength, almost chamber music-like lightness, extraordinarily transparent and, thanks to careful tempo choices, with wonderful dramatic tension. Five hours long.

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Hit in the heart by opening performance by Alain Platel, and then find solace. #hf12

by Wijbrand Schaap
2 June 201213 February 2019
3 min read
Holland Festival, SPECIALS

Op tweederde schiet de brok erin om er tot het einde niet meer uit te gaan. Bij iedere voorstelling van Alain Platèl gebeurt het. Hartgrondige snikken uit de zaal, veel geslik om je heen en de onvermijdelijk als een natuurramp opwellende tranen. Het werk van de Vlaamse choreograaf daarom voorspelbaar noemen, gaat te ver. Wat hij met zijn gezelschap Les…

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Sculpted Ovation for 'ingenious' conductor Iván Fischer

by one of our members
17 October 201129 March 2022
2 min read
ACTUAL, For members only

"Programmatic ingenuity goes hand in hand with Fischer's ebullient and finely crafted performances". So when someone says that about you, you have earned a prize. So that is what the jury of formerly the Classical Music Prize thought of Iván Fischer, the Hungarian-born conductor who was therefore awarded the 'Ovation' on Monday 17 October 2011. And so then the 'Ovation'...

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Superbly performed opera by Rimsky Korsakoff provisional highlight of changeable opening weekend Gergiev Festival

by one of our members
13 September 201130 March 2022
4 min read
ACTUAL, For members only

"My commitment to the city (Rotterdam) and the orchestra knows no end," Valeri Gergyev spoke on the occasion of the Gergyev Festival taking place in Rotterdam this week. This is good news, as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the former principal conductor still get along well. And to be backed by this global top-five conductor is...

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Wagnerprimeur: gemankeerde Lohengrin soort van rechtstreeks uit Wagnertempel in Bayreuth

by Henri Drost
16 August 20118 July 2016
4 min read
MUSIC, OPERA

‘Kinder!, macht Neues!, Neues!, und abermals Neues!’ schreef Wagner aan Franz Lizt. En na de allereerste Festspiele concludeerde hij dat volgend jaar alles anders moest. Zelfs een geheel nieuw theater achtte hij niet uitgesloten.

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