15 Such a moment arose with Salome. “As our former chief conductor Lorenzo Viotti was available with the Netherlands Philharmonic, with whom he shares a special bond, and as we were able to engage the exceptional Strauss interpreter Sara Jakubiak for her role debut as Salome, the timing was perfect.” The revival of Pagliacci / Cavalleria rusticana followed a similar line of thinking. “When it became clear that maestro Andrea Battistoni was available during this period, we knew we had someone who could bring the right energy to this diptych. We were also able to assemble an ideal cast. And it feels right that the Chorus of Dutch National Opera plays a central role in both the season’s opening in September and its closing in June.” Reaching wider audiences Dutch National Opera continually strives to reach the broadest possible audience. “That is why we invest in streaming our productions digitally, and collaborate with a wide range of partners, including other opera houses, orchestras and companies. We are part of the Dutch cultural ecosystem. We are not an island, and we actively seek partnerships beyond the Text: Wout van Tongeren | Photo: Hans van den Boogaard (portrait) Sophie de Lint Director Dutch National Opera opera world, not only to learn from and inspire one another, but above all, to enrich the art form and reach as diverse and extensive an audience as possible.” This season includes renewed collaboration with the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra on the new youth production The 10 + 1 Strings of Captain Ud, in which different musical worlds converge. The touring production Impressions de Pelléas by the Dutch National Opera Studio, in collaboration with Nederlanse Reisopera and Opera Zuid, is another example of connection within the cultural landscape: a shared investment in talent development and audience engagement. Space for experimentation Opera takes many forms this season, both on the Main Stage and in Studio Boekman. “We constantly move between scales: from repertoire titles to new works, from youth and family performances to the community opera Uprising, involving various local choirs. Studio Boekman offers space for experimentation and new voices, such as The Monster Trilogy by British composer and jazz saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, and the revival of Lennox, both in collaboration with RIGHTABOUTNOW INC.” What ultimately gives her the most energy? She pauses. “It is the moment when everything feels aligned. When artists truly connect, when a work touches something in the audience, when you think: this had to happen here and now. That feeling, that shared concentration on something greater than the sum of its parts, is what we seek anew each season.” Scene from Pagliacci directed by Robert Carsen (2019) Photo: Matthias Baus
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