Holland festival
Dates
3-23 June
Location
Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Auditorium
Running time
1:40 hours, no break
Tickets
From €37,-

An erotic mystery
The first two humans on earth were in love. The third man killed the fourth. Die ersten Menschen tells the story of the first family in the biblical history of mankind: Adahm and Chawa and their sons Kajin and Chabel. In Die ersten Menschen, the well-known Bible story of Kajin's murder of his brother is interpreted from a completely different angle.
Performance information
New production
Musical direction François-Xavier Roth
Direction Calixto Bieito
Set design Rebecca Ringst
Costumes Ingo Krügler
Lighting Michael Bauer
Video Sarah Derendinger
Adahm Kyle Ketelsen
Kajin Leigh Melrose
Chawa Annette Dasch
Chabel John Osborn
Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Sung in German, with Dutch and English surtitles
Watch the trailer

Free PDF programme booklet
Click on the link below and receive the free online programme booklet. In this PDF programme booklet you can read about the opera, the composer and the history of the work. Through interviews with director Calixto Bieito and conductor François-Xavier Roth you get a glimpse of the artistic process. The PDF programme booklet is available in Dutch and English.
Printed programme booklet
From Tuesday 1 June a printed programme booklet will also be available. In this booklet you will find information about the work and the production, as well as the German libretto with Dutch translation. You can order this printed programme booklet for only €8,- via the link below.
Livestream
Have you not been able to get a ticket for Die ersten Menschen, but do you still want to see the performance? Then you can watch the opera from Friday June 25 at 8 PM (CET) for free via the European culture TV channel ARTE or via the link below. Die ersten Menschen will remain available for six months after this.
Watch the teaser


Free lecture
Online programme in collaboration with SPUI25
Joep Leerssen reveals the cultural-historical context of this unknown but fascinating, steamy opera. On Thursday 27 May from 5:15 - 6.30 PM (CET), you can watch the livestream of this lecture for free. After the live broadcast, the lecture will remain available online.
Please note: the online programme is in Dutch.
Die ersten Menschen - Podcast
In this two-part (Dutch) podcast you get to know the unknown but impressive opera Die ersten Menschen by Rudi Stephan. In part one, dramatist Luc Joosten sketches the cultural and historical context in which the opera was created, and director Calixto Bieito and conductor François-Xavier Roth also have their say. In part two, a musical journey through the score is made with repetitor Jan-Paul Grijpink at the piano.
Deel 1: 'Die ersten Menschen': een inleiding in een bijzondere opera
Deel 2: 'Die ersten Menschen': een reis door de partituur
Interview with François-Xavier Roth
Do you want to read more about Die ersten Menschen and itsmakers? Then read this interview (in Dutch) with François-Xavier Roth in Trouw!
Order tickets
Besides live in the theatre, you can also watch Die ersten Menschen from Friday June 25 at 8 PM (CET) for free via the European culture TV channel ARTE or via this link. The opera will remain available for six months after this.

The Concertgebouw orkest
The Concertgebouworkest was founded in 1888. On the occasion of its 100th anniversary in 1988, the orchestra officially received the appellation ‘Royal’. Based in Amsterdam, the Concertgebouworkest is one of the very best orchestras in the world. Time and time again, critics have lauded its unique sound.

Opera & ballet online
Nooit genoeg van opera? Ontdek meer dan 2.584 uur aan:
-
aria's en operafragmenten
-
achter de schermen video's
-
interviews & artikelen