Saturday 31 January 2026 | 15:00 |
Saturday 31 January 2026 | 20:00 |
Sunday 01 February 2026 | 15:00 |
Various | Somer & Winter | Libretto by Hans Vercauteren and Lente Verelst |
Opera Ballet Vlaanderen | |
Hans Vercauteren | Conductor |
Kinderkoor Opera Vlaanderen | |
Joke Emmers | Actor |
Spectra Ensemble |
Summer and Winter can't seem to agree. Which season is most suitable for love? In Somer & Winter tempers flare when both seasons deem themselves the best period to fall in love. Witnesses are called, supporters and opponents gather and the discussion gets out of hand. When a duel threatens, the goddess Venus intervenes. She reminds Summer and Winter that they are brothers and that love is not limited to one season. Composers Hans Vercauteren and Lente Verelst base this musical family performance on Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer, one of the 'abele spelen', the oldest surviving Dutch-language theatre texts. Actress Joke Emmers will have to end the quarrel as Venus and also plays the role of Zwerver (the Drifter). She will be accompanied by two singers, Somer and Winter, the entire Children's Chorus of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and a seven-piece instrumental ensemble.