Guide to Dutch National Opera and Ballet

Dutch National Opera is known for its diverse programming, from classic to contemporary operas, and for the reliably outstanding quality of its performances. With innovative productions, specially-composed works and a fresh approach to the standard repertoire, Dutch National Opera ensures the longevity of this splendid art form. With Pierre Audi as its artistic director and now, following the merger, as director of Dutch National Opera, the company has garnered worldwide recognition and its new productions invariably attract widespread attention. In 2013 DNO won the international Opera Award for the best production of the year.

The company was founded shortly after the Second World War and developed from a repertory company to a ‘stagione’ company. This means that Dutch National Opera does not have a full-time ensemble and that it stages an average of one opera per month, for which guest soloists and separate artistic teams are brought in.

Dutch National Opera does have its own full-time chorus, made up of fifty-six professional singers. The Chorus is considered one of the finest in Europe and was nominated for the best choral performance of the year in 2013. For most of its productions, DNO works with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. The chief conductor is Marc Albrecht.

Most of DNO’s productions can be seen in National Opera & Ballet, but performances are also held in other venues, among them the Amsterdam Stadsschouwburg, Royal Theatre Carré, the Westergasfabriek or the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. Many of DNO’s operas continue to attract the attention of, and invitations from, international opera houses and festivals. Co-productions with renowned companies such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Opéra de Paris or the Teatro alla Scala in Milan are now regular partnerships.