McBurney's Magic Flute makes a triumphant return to DNO

Thomas Oliemans (Papageno) and Ying Fang (Pamina)

Foley artist Ruth Sullivan

Die Zauberflöte

Ying Fang (Pamina) and Rainelle Krause (Queen of the Night)

Mingjie Lei (Tamino)

By Clare Varney, 03 December 2023

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“Dutch baritone Thomas Oliemans... has made the role of Papageno his own”

Reviewed at Dutch National Opera and Ballet, Amsterdam on 1 December 2023

Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

Dutch National Opera

Riccardo Minasi, Conductor

Simon McBurney, Director

Michael Levine, Set Designer

Nicky Gillibrand, Costume Designer

Jean Kalman, Lighting Designer

Dutch Chamber Orchestra

Chorus of Dutch National Opera

Mingjie Lei, Tamino

Ying Fang, Pamina

Rainelle Krause, Queen of the Night

Thomas Oliemans, Papageno

Christof Fischesser, Sarastro

Frederik Bergman, The Speaker (Der Sprecher)

Lucas van Lierop, Monostatos

Edward Ananian-Cooper, Choirmaster / chorus director

Netherlands Boys Choir (Nationaal Jongenskoor)

Irene Verburg, Choirmaster / chorus director

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.

****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.

*****

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Clare Varney

Clare is a freelance writer and music critic from the UK, currently living in the Netherlands where she writes about Music, Food and Culture. Clare is a passionate musician, having learnt the violin and piano from an early age. When not at her laptop writing, she spends her time nurturing the next generation of brass players, all from her Dutch kitchen in the sky. Read more at The Spidy Editor.

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