Age of Anxiety: Dutch National Opera’s unsettling Arabella

By Jenny Camilleri, 14 April 2014

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“horns snarled, bassoons guffawed, flutes spurted question marks into the air”

Reviewed at Dutch National Opera and Ballet, Amsterdam on 13 April 2014

Strauss R., Arabella

Dutch National Opera

Marc Albrecht, Conductor

Christof Loy, Director

Herbert Murauer, Set Designer

Jacquelyn Wagner, Arabella

Susanne Elmark, The Fiakermilli

Agneta Eichenholz, Zdenka

Charlotte Margiono, Adelaide

Marcel Reijans, Count Elemer

Will Hartmann, Matteo

James Rutherford, Mandryka

Alfred Reiter, Count Waldner

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Chorus of Dutch National Opera

Frank Hameleers, Choirmaster / chorus director

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

Stikhina and Clayton shine in DNO's uneven Maid of Orleans

Eleanor Knight, 15th November

Director Dmitri Tcherniakov and a talented cast do everything to make Tchaikovsky’s opera work in Amsterdam, but problematic elements persist.

***11

More reviews...

Jenny Camilleri

After completing her postgraduate studies in psychology at the University of Toronto, Jenny moved to Amsterdam, where she enjoys singing in amateur choirs. She loves all genres of classical vocal music, especially nineteenth and early twentieth century Italian and German opera and art songs.