Musically superlative Das Floß der Medusa at DNO

By Jenny Camilleri, 14 March 2018

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“the Netherlands Philharmonic sweated feverishly, keened and thundered”

Reviewed at Dutch National Opera and Ballet, Amsterdam on 13 March 2018

Henze, Das Floß der Medusa (The Raft of the Medusa)

Dutch National Opera

Ingo Metzmacher, Conductor

Romeo Castellucci, Director, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Lenneke Ruiten, Soprano

Bo Skovhus, Baritone

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Chorus of Dutch National Opera

Dale Duesing, Narrator

Cappella Amsterdam

Nieuw Amsterdams Kinderkoor

The Dutch National Ballet's Hans van Manen in Carré

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Dutch National Ballet give an exemplary account of a quadruple bill comprised of the late Hans van Manen's works. It's a wonderful tribute to the great master choreographer.

*****

Weinberg’s The Passenger at Dutch National Opera

Clare Varney, 17th April

Tobias Kratzer's 2024 Munich production makes its way to Amsterdam, proving that Weinberg's opera has the power to transfix.

****1

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.

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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.

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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.

Musically superlative Das Floß der Medusa at Dutch National Opera