Weinberg’s The Passenger at Dutch National Opera

The Passenger

Sybille Maris Dordel and Jenny Carlstedt (Lisa)

The Passenger

By Clare Varney, 19 April 2026

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“the impassioned Bach Chaconne... provided the emotional climax”

Reviewed at Dutch National Opera and Ballet, Amsterdam on 17 April 2026

Weinberg, The Passenger

Dutch National Opera

Adam Hickox, Conductor

Tobias Kratzer, Director

Rainer Sellmaier, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Michael Bauer, Lighting Designer

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Chorus of Dutch National Opera

Manuel Braun, Video

Jonas Dahl, Video

Andreas Weirich, Revival Director

Jenny Carlstedt, Lisa

Sylvia D'Eramo, Marta

Nikolai Schukoff, Walter

Gyula Orendt, Tadeusz

Sibylle Maria Dordel, Old woman

Daria Brusova, Ivette

Margarita Nekrasova, Bronka

Eva Kroon, Hannah

Madison Horman, Krystyna

Iida Antola, Vlasta

Joe Chalmers, 1st SS officer

Jasurbek Khaydarov, 2nd SS officer

Lucas van Lierop, 3rd SS officer

Nanco de Vries, Elderly passenger

Sophie Wendt, Female Supervisor, Kapo

Niek Baar, Violin

Dutch National Ballet's reimagined La Bayadère triumphs

Mark Vicente, 26th March

Dutch National Ballet's new production of La Bayadère does away with the ballet’s problematic gestures and movements, allowing the choreography to truly shine.

****1

Michel van der Aa’s Theory of Flames: defining opera for a modern age

Clare Varney, 6th March

British singers Mary Bevan and Roderick Williams lead the cast in Dutch National Opera’s latest ground-breaking opera, merging live music with pre-recorded film and electronics.

****1

Dutch National Ballet brings much needed heat to this winter season

Mark Vicente, 10th February

The Dutch National Ballet helped shake off those winter blues with a mixed programme that highlighted ballet’s love affair with Latin rhythms and movement.

****1

Semele at Dutch National Opera: myth, desire and fantasy

Mengguang Huang, 23rd January

Guth’s Semele turns myth into a contemporary domestic drama, where desire becomes obsession and illusion consumes reality. Handel’s music remains the true engine, driven by a thrilling, physically intense ensemble.

****1

Dutch National Ballet's Program B is the A+ Program in New York

Ivy Lin, 21st November

Dutch National Ballet's second mixed bill at New York City Center ticked all the right boxes, showcasing the depth of talent across the whole company.

*****

Dutch National Ballet's opener in New York: meandering and unfocused

Ivy Lin, 20th November

Dutch National Ballet returning to New York after more than 40 years should have been thrilling. The opening program, whilst beautifully danced, was somewhat muted.

***11

More reviews...

Clare Varney

Clare is a freelance writer and music critic from the UK, currently living in the Netherlands where she writes about Music, Food and Culture. Clare is a passionate musician, having learnt the violin and piano from an early age. When not at her laptop writing, she spends her time nurturing the next generation of brass players, all from her Dutch kitchen in the sky. Read more at The Spidy Editor.

Weinberg’s The Passenger paints the horror of Auschwitz in a different light