repertoire in a purely musical setting. The concerts with our partner orchestra the Netherlands Philharmonic offer a great opportunity for this. And obviously the Concertgebouw is a wonderful place to sing in. Last year, the Chorus also performed its own a cappella concert in De Duif, a church in Amsterdam. This was the first time I’d conducted the Chorus in a programme of that kind. I believe that the skills that this kind of repertoire requires from the singers are of enormous added value for our development. We are already planning another dedicated chorus concert in the new season.” The Chorus of Dutch National Opera is at the heart of many opera productions and its exceptionally high quality is a key factor in Dutch National Opera’s international success. Edward Ananian-Cooper was appointed artistic director of the Chorus in 2022. In this interview, he talks about his vision, the Chorus’s strengths and the new productions he is particularly looking forward to. Interview Edward Ananian-Cooper about the Chorus How do you see the position of the Chorus within Dutch National Opera? “With fifty-five permanent Chorus members and an additional fifty singers who regularly join the group, the Chorus is the beating heart of Dutch National Opera. What’s fascinating about our Chorus isn’t just the high musical standard but also the personalities of the singers and the dramatic quality they bring to the theatre. There aren’t many choruses that have this kind of drive to be on stage. That’s partly what we look for when we recruit people — it’s just as important as the singing. They should add something when they are on stage.” Sometimes the Chorus performs in other venues. Why is that important? “With performances in other settings, we can generate exposure for Dutch National Opera, for example when we sang in the TV show ARIA, with over a million people watching. Furthermore, it is good for the level of the Chorus to engage with other Beating heart of Dutch National Opera The Chorus in Peter Grimes (2024) 64 Opera
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