Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | English | Dutch National Opera

Showing 50 of 142 reviews

Loading image...

International Draft Works: an opportunity for discovery

By Deborah Weiss, 09 April 2025

An interesting mix of classical, contemporary, hip-hop and cultural choreography graced the stage at the Linbury Theatre for International Draft Works 2025.

***11

Loading image...

***11

London

10 Apr 2025

International Draft Works: an opportunity for discovery

By Deborah Weiss

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Anna Tsygankova is a riveting Lady Macbeth in Pickett’s new production

By Vikki Jane Vile, 06 April 2025

Dutch National Ballet give committed performances in Helen Pickett’s latest literary adaptation in a full-length Lady Macbeth.

***11

Loading image...

***11

Amsterdam

09 Apr 2025

Anna Tsygankova is a riveting Lady Macbeth in Amsterdam

By Vikki Jane Vile

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Collaborations and world premieres at the Opera Forward Festival in Amsterdam

By Eleanor Knight, 23 March 2025

Two world premieres at Dutch National Opera speak to what have traditionally been two separate audiences: the audience within the opera house and the one without.

Loading image...

Amsterdam

25 Mar 2025

Collaborations and world premieres: Opera Forward Festival

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

A Dance to the Music of Time: We Are the Lucky Ones is the time to be alive at DNO

By Eleanor Knight, 22 March 2025

Inspired by Annie Ernaux’s The Years, Philip Venables’ new opera widens the canvas to take in the whole of Europe’s postwar generation.

*****

Loading image...

*****

Amsterdam

24 Mar 2025

Venables We Are the Lucky Ones is the time to be alive at DNO

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Bats! Die Fledermaus is a fabulous flight of fantasy at Dutch National Opera

By Eleanor Knight, 05 December 2024

Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus, was never meant to challenge grand opera for profundity and Barrie Kosky pokes fun at Viennese high society in his riotous staging.

*****

Loading image...

*****

Amsterdam

06 Dec 2024

Bats! Die Fledermaus is a fabulous flight of fantasy at DNO

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Chaos in the Underworld: Andriy Zholdak directs Fidelio at Dutch National Opera

By Eleanor Knight, 05 June 2024

The Ukrainian director's “revisioning” of Beethoven's only opera plunges it into an incoherent underworld in Amsterdam.

*1111

Loading image...

*1111

Amsterdam

06 Jun 2024

Chaos in the Underworld: Andriy Zholdak directs Fidelio at DNO

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

A Puccini hat-trick: Barrie Kosky directs Il trittico at Dutch National Opera

By Eleanor Knight, 03 May 2024

Barrie Kosky brings his trio of Puccini productions to a close with another triptych: Il trittico in a triumphant staging.

*****

Loading image...

*****

Amsterdam

04 May 2024

A Puccini hat-trick: Barrie Kosky directs Il trittico in Amsterdam

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Crowning glory: DNO's Donizetti Tudor trilogy concludes with Roberto Devereux

By Eleanor Knight, 21 April 2024

Angela Brower steals the crown in the final instalment of Jetske Mijnssen’s Donizetti trilogy with a voice of apparently limitless emotional range.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

22 Apr 2024

Crowning glory: DNO's Donizetti Tudor trilogy concludes

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Fearless and captivating, Dancing Dutch is a romp of a programme

By Vikki Jane Vile, 31 March 2024

Dancing Dutch for Dutch National Ballet comprises four different works, not all by Dutch choreographers, which show off the depth and breadth of a company in great shape.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

06 Apr 2024

Fearless and captivating, Dancing Dutch is a romp of a programme

By Vikki Jane Vile

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Oedipus Rex and Antigone a double triumph for Dutch National Opera and Ballet

By Eleanor Knight, 09 March 2024

When the director walks four weeks ahead of opening night, Dutch National Opera and Ballet hastily create a searing double bill of classical tragedy.

*****

Loading image...

*****

Amsterdam

10 Mar 2024

Oedipus Rex and Antigone a double triumph for DNO and DNB

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Overcrowding suffocates DNO's Traviata

By Eleanor Knight, 27 January 2024

Adela Zaharia is cast as a Violetta for whom the party never stops in this revival of Tatjana Gürbaca's busy staging at Dutch National Opera.

**111

Loading image...

**111

Amsterdam

29 Jan 2024

Overcrowding suffocates DNO's Traviata

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Barrie Kosky's Agrippina is finally crowned at Dutch National Opera

By Eleanor Knight, 13 January 2024

The Australian director's 2019 production of Handel's satirical comedy-thriller arrives in Amsterdam, with a cast led by the fabulous Stéphanie d'Oustrac.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

15 Jan 2024

Barrie Kosky's Agrippina is finally crowned at DNO

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Simon McBurney's Magic Flute makes a triumphant return to Dutch National Opera

By Clare Varney, 01 December 2023

After its Met Opera debut earlier in the year, Simon McBurney's popular staging returns to Amsterdam.

*****

Loading image...

*****

Amsterdam

03 Dec 2023

McBurney's Magic Flute makes a triumphant return to DNO

By Clare Varney

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Short, sharp adrenaline hit: Dutch National Ballet thrill in Forsythe

By Vikki Jane Vile, 18 June 2023

Triple bills featuring works by William Forsythe are fast becoming de rigeur. Dutch National Ballet have taken up the challenge and appear to revel in it.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

19 Jun 2023

Short, sharp adrenaline hit: Dutch National Ballet thrill in Forsythe

By Vikki Jane Vile

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Double trouble as two directors tackle new Dutch National Opera Rusalka

By Eleanor Knight, 08 June 2023

The magic in Philipp Stölzl and Philipp Krenn's new production comes from the pit, where Joana Mallwitz and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra captivate.

***11

Loading image...

***11

Amsterdam

10 Jun 2023

Double trouble as two directors tackle new DNO Rusalka

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Outstanding voices, compelling psychodrama: Maria Stuarda at Dutch National Opera

By David Karlin, 06 May 2023

Extraordinary performances from Kristina Mkhitaryan and Aigul Akhmetshina turn Donizetti's take on Schiller into an intense psychological portrait of power struggle.

*****

Loading image...

*****

Amsterdam

08 May 2023

Outstanding voices, compelling drama: Maria Stuarda at DNO

By David Karlin

Loading image...

Amsterdam

A Dance to the Music of Time: Der Rosenkavalier returns to Dutch National Opera

By Eleanor Knight, 13 April 2023

Jan Philipp Gloger's production returns to Amsterdam with a superb cast led by Maria Bengtsson and Angela Brower.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

15 Apr 2023

A Dance to the Music of Time: Der Rosenkavalier returns to DNO

By Eleanor Knight

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Marc Albrecht returns to Amsterdam with a Humperdinck rarity

By Nicolas Nguyen, 06 October 2022

Christof Loy directs a new production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s rarely performed second opera, Königskinder.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

07 Oct 2022

Marc Albrecht returns to Amsterdam with a Humperdinck rarity

By Nicolas Nguyen

Loading image...

Amsterdam

True spectacle as Robert Carsen's Carmen is revived at Dutch National Opera

By Rose Dodd, 09 September 2022

Mezzo J'Nai Bridges stuns in the title role of Bizet's opera, returning to Amsterdam in Robert Carsen's celebrated staging.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

11 Sep 2022

True spectacle as Robert Carsen's Carmen is revived at DNO

By Rose Dodd

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Marina Rebeka stars as a regal Anna Bolena at Dutch National Opera

By Nicolas Nguyen, 12 May 2022

Latvian soprano Marina Rebeka gives a star performance in first staged production of Donizetti's Anna Bolena in Amsterdam.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

13 May 2022

Marina Rebeka stars as a regal Anna Bolena at Dutch National Opera

By Nicolas Nguyen

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Barrie Kosky's Tosca as opera noir in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen, 12 April 2022

Barrie Kosky's psychological thriller approach to Tosca at Dutch National Opera benefits greatly from the strong performances of its three principals.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Amsterdam

14 Apr 2022

Barrie Kosky's Tosca as opera noir in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen

Loading image...

Amsterdam

Don Giovanni “dans un bois (not so) solitaire” at Dutch National Opera

By Nicolas Nguyen, 04 November 2021

Claus Guth’s Don Giovanni returns to Amsterdam with an almost entirely new cast with strong leads by Seth Carico and Adrian Sâmpetrean.

***11

Loading image...

***11

Amsterdam

06 Nov 2021

Don Giovanni “dans un bois (not so) solitaire” at Dutch National Opera

By Nicolas Nguyen

Amsterdam

Stealing fire: Beethoven's Prometheus choreographed afresh at Dutch National Ballet

By Mark Pullinger, 08 June 2021

Salvatore Viganò's choreography for Beethoven's 1801 ballet Prometheus has not survived, but a trio of creators put their own stamp on the score in Amsterdam.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

10 Jun 2021

Stealing fire: Beethoven's Prometheus choreographed afresh at DNB

By Mark Pullinger

Amsterdam

Vehicle of hope: David Dawson's Metamorphosis for Dutch National Ballet

By Graham Watts, 29 April 2021

Beautiful neoclassical and Baroque dance describes a future full of hope that really hits the spot.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

02 May 2021

Vehicle of hope: David Dawson's Metamorphosis for DNB

By Graham Watts

Amsterdam

Easter delights in Dutch National Ballet's Spring Special

By Graham Watts, 05 April 2021

A complete roster of principal dancers appear in a gala full of the joys of spring.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

12 Apr 2021

Easter delights in Dutch National Ballet's Spring Special

By Graham Watts

Amsterdam

I am a camera: a cinematic Seven Deadly Sins from Dutch National Opera

By Kevin Wells, 18 March 2021

Director Ola Mafaalani has created an absorbing and completely cinematic version of the opera, combining stationary and handheld cameras to create a pictorial variety of perspectives and expressionistic framing

****1

****1

Amsterdam

19 Mar 2021

A cinematic Seven Deadly Sins from Dutch National Opera

By Kevin Wells

Amsterdam

Celebrating a Dutch Master with six of his best: Hans van Manen Variations

By Graham Watts, 28 February 2021

Dutch National Ballet presents six Hans van Manen creations spanning 40 years of choreography.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

28 Feb 2021

Celebrating a Dutch Master with six of his best

By Graham Watts

Amsterdam

Dutch National Opera brings off a Covid-adapted Figaro with brilliance

By Ako Imamura, 29 November 2020

Shortened and simplified to adapt to restrictions, David Bösch's 2016 production succeeds in bringing Mozart's brilliant opera to a modern setting with a splendid cast of singers.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

29 Nov 2020

DNO brings off a Covid-adapted Figaro with brilliance

By Ako Imamura

Amsterdam

The expressive and the surreal: Frida premieres at Dutch National Ballet

By Sarah Batschelet, 08 February 2020

The world premiere of Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's ballet about the legendary Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is unsurprisingly colourful and highly dramatic by design.

***11

***11

Amsterdam

10 Feb 2020

Frida premieres at Dutch National Ballet

By Sarah Batschelet

Amsterdam

A monolithic Nabucco at Dutch National Opera

By Jenny Camilleri, 27 January 2020

A promising cast on paper is scuppered by a banal, monotonous production and uninspired conducting.

**111

**111

Amsterdam

28 Jan 2020

A monolithic Nabucco at Dutch National Opera

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

Rodelinda hits all the marks at Dutch National Opera

By Jenny Camilleri, 14 January 2020

A veritable Baroque bonanza featuring a top-tier cast and orchestra in an emotionally incisive and handsomely crafted production.

*****

*****

Amsterdam

15 Jan 2020

Rodelinda hits all the marks at Dutch National Opera

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

Cinderella's pink dream: La Cenerentola in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen, 03 December 2019

At Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, Laurent Pelly stages Cenenrentola as a pink daydream.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

05 Dec 2019

Cinderella's pink dream: La Cenerentola in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen

Amsterdam

Once more around the catwalk: Audi's Walküre in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen, 16 November 2019

Dutch National Opera revives Pierre Audi's acclaimed Die Walküre for the very last time.

*****

*****

Amsterdam

18 Nov 2019

Once more around the catwalk: Audi's Walküre in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen

Amsterdam

Teenage summer crush in Dutch National Opera's Così fan tutte

By Nicolas Nguyen, 08 October 2019

Dutch National Opera's superbly sang Così fan tutte is transposed into a teenager summer crush story.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

10 Oct 2019

Teenage summer crush in Dutch National Opera's Così fan tutte

By Nicolas Nguyen

Amsterdam

Glitter and groove with Balanchine in Amsterdam

By Lambrecht Wessels, 13 September 2019

Dutch National Ballet continues its series honouring the great choreographer.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

18 Sep 2019

Glitter and groove with Balanchine in Amsterdam

By Lambrecht Wessels

Amsterdam

Season opener Pagliacci/Cavalleria Rusticana sets the bar high at Dutch National Opera

By Jenny Camilleri, 05 September 2019

Exceptional singing, an auspicious conducting debut and a staging that is both sophisticated and emotionally involving make this production an unequivocal winner.

*****

*****

Amsterdam

06 Sep 2019

Pagliacci/Cavalleria Rusticana sets the bar high at DNO

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

No slim pickings at Dutch National Ballet's “New Moves”

By Lambrecht Wessels, 01 July 2019

The short programme of new works choreographed by DNB dancers leaves the audience refreshed with enthusiasm.

Amsterdam

05 Jul 2019

No slim pickings at Dutch National Ballet's “New Moves”

By Lambrecht Wessels

Amsterdam

Arqués fiery Ignite captures the attention at Dutch National Ballet

By Lambrecht Wessels, 14 June 2019

Anna Tsygankova is clearly enjoying her part in Forsythe's Pas/Parts 2018, an exposé of the vocabulary of modern ballet.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

18 Jun 2019

Arqués fiery Ignite captures the attention at Dutch National Ballet

By Lambrecht Wessels

Amsterdam

Pelléas et Mélisande at the Holland Festival: austerely beautiful but flawed

By Jenny Camilleri, 05 June 2019

The credits for this new production directed by Olivier Py raised high expectations that were only partially met on opening night.

***11

***11

Amsterdam

06 Jun 2019

Pelléas et Mélisande: austerely beautiful but flawed

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

Airborne string players and choral wizardry in aus LICHT Part 3

By Jenny Camilleri, 02 June 2019

In the final instalment of aus LICHT, the Helicopter String Quartet lives up to the publicity hype and choirs perform marvellous feats.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

03 Jun 2019

Airborne string players and choral wizardry in aus LICHT Part 3

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

Hypnotic, diabolical and magical: aus LICHT Part 2, Lucifer & Eve

By Jenny Camilleri, 01 June 2019

The second day of aus LICHT is one mesmerising highlight after another, including the Netherlands Youth and Children’s Choirs in one magical and one sinister procession.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

02 Jun 2019

Hypnotic, diabolical and magical:

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

aus LICHT Part 1: Michael only takes flight in the second half

By Jenny Camilleri, 31 May 2019

The performers in Part 1 of aus LICHT at the Holland Festival are amazing, but the production doesn’t rev up until the Archangel Michael goes on his dizzying world tour.

***11

***11

Amsterdam

01 Jun 2019

aus LICHT Part 1: Michael only takes flight in the second half

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

Bob Wilson's cool minimalist Butterfly is back in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen, 23 April 2019

Robert Wilson's Madama Butterfly is back in Amsterdam starring rising star Elena Stikhina as the doomed Cio-Cio-San.

***11

***11

Amsterdam

25 Apr 2019

Bob Wilson's cool minimalist Butterfly is back in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen

Amsterdam

Glorious ensembles in Dutch National Opera’s new Tannhäuser

By Jenny Camilleri, 06 April 2019

Orchestra and chorus reach great Wagnerian heights in this new production by Christof Loy, a study of an artist in revolt against hypocritical sexual mores.

***11

***11

Amsterdam

07 Apr 2019

Glorious ensembles in Dutch National Opera’s new Tannhäuser

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

A Swan Lake of awe inspiring beauty in Amsterdam

By Lambrecht Wessels, 16 March 2019

This Swan Lake is a continued homage to classical female beauty and awe-inspiring dancing. The swans' collective mourning at Siegfried’s betrayal and its consequences are palpable.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

18 Mar 2019

A Swan Lake of awe inspiring beauty in Amsterdam

By Lambrecht Wessels

Amsterdam

Perfect symbiosis of words and music in Fin de partie at the Opera Forward Festival

By Jenny Camilleri, 06 March 2019

György Kurtág’s long awaited opera Fin de partie gets a second run in Amsterdam after its La Scala premiere, with the same excellent cast, conductor and production team.

*****

*****

Amsterdam

07 Mar 2019

Perfect symbiosis of words and music in Fin de partie

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

Adams’ dark Gold Rush opera arrives in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen, 28 February 2019

Dame Shirley’s texts are here sung by the young American soprano Julia Bullock whose pliable instrument and stylish way with words reveal an ideal storyteller.

***11

***11

Amsterdam

02 Mar 2019

Adams’ dark Gold Rush opera arrives in Amsterdam

By Nicolas Nguyen

Amsterdam

A great Requiem premieres at Dutch National Ballet

By Lambrecht Wessels, 09 February 2019

Dawson impresses most where the dynamic between utter stillness and his lyrical movements is greatest, and Bryers has composed a beautiful and meditative series of compositions

****1

****1

Amsterdam

12 Feb 2019

A great Requiem premieres at Dutch National Ballet

By Lambrecht Wessels

Amsterdam

La Cetra dazzles in Juditha triumphans at Dutch National Opera

By Jenny Camilleri, 26 January 2019

Floris Visser’s staging transforms Vivaldi’s biblical oratorio into a credible wartime drama. The young cast is proficient, and La Cetra Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Andrea Marcon, nothing short of miraculous.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

28 Jan 2019

La Cetra dazzles in Juditha triumphans at Dutch National Opera

By Jenny Camilleri

Amsterdam

“Let them eat cake!” A revolutionary Barbiere at Dutch National Opera

By Nicolas Nguyen, 10 November 2018

Lotte de Beer’s Il barbiere di Siviglia for Dutch National Opera seems a surprisingly traditional spectacle... although it does come with a twist.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

12 Nov 2018

“Let them eat cake!” A revolutionary Barbiere at DNO

By Nicolas Nguyen