Dates

13-28 Jan 2024

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

3:55, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

From € 22

Agrippina

In the clutches of a power-hungry empress

Nero’s mother Agrippina will do everything she can to overthrow the Roman emperor Claudius and put her son in power. This Baroque opera about huge ambitions, political intrigue and the crooked path to power is one of Handel’s strongest early works. 

Photo: Marta Syrko

In the clutches of a power-hungry empress

“This work has sensuality and power, the most thrilling ingredients you could want from an opera”, says stage director Barrie Kosky. He has a gift for presenting true-to-life characters who tread a fine line between irony and seriousness. The stylish decor was designed by Rebecca Ringst, who won Designer of the Year at the 2019 International Opera Awards.

 

Successful tradition

Dutch National Opera has a long and successful tradition of performing Handel’s work. Ariodante, Jephtha, Rodelinda and Giulio Cesare have all featured on the programme in recent years. However, Agrippina has never before been performed at DNO. The musical direction for this first production is in the hands of Handel specialist Ottavio Dantone, who will be making his debut as a conductor at Dutch National Opera. His own prize-winning Baroque orchestra Accademia Bizantina will be taking their seats in the orchestra pit.

The acclaimed mezzo-soprano Stéphanie d’Oustrac will be performing the role of the empress Agrippina for the first time, after her performances in DNO productions L’étoile and Idomeneo. D’Oustrac shines alongside up-and-coming countertenor John Holiday (Nerone), who previously sang in DNO’s We Shall Not Be Moved, and soprano Ying Fang (Poppea), who has become a firm favourite with Amsterdam audiences. 

Performance information

Opera in three acts
Sung in Italian

Libretto  Vincenzo Grimani

Musical direction  Ottavio Dantone
Stage direction  Barrie Kosky
Set design  Rebecca Ringst
Costume design  Klaus Bruns
Lighting design  Joachim Klein
Dramaturgy  Nikolaus Stenitzer

Agrippina  Stéphanie d’Oustrac 
Nerone  John Holiday
Poppea  Ying Fang 
Claudio  Gianluca Buratto
Ottone  Tim Mead
Pallante Tommaso Barea
Narciso  Jake Ingbar*
Lesbo  Georgiy Derbas-Richter*

* Dutch National Opera Studio

Orchestra  Accademia Bizantina

Coproduction with Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich),  Royal Opera House (London) and Hamburgische Staatsoper

SENSUALITY, POWER AND BAROQUE

Scene Agrippina
Scenes Agrippina - The Royal Opera (2019) | Photo: Bill Cooper (ROH)
Laughing
The Royal Opera (2019) | Photo: Bill Cooper (ROH)
Couple - yellow dress and suit
The Royal Opera (2019) | Photo: Bill Cooper (ROH)
From the balcony
The Royal Opera (2019) | Photo: Bill Cooper (ROH)
Scene
The Royal Opera (2019) | Photo: Bill Cooper (ROH)
Agrippina
Scenes Agrippina - Bayerische Staatsoper (2022) | Photo: Wilfried Hösl
Agrippina
Bayerische Staatsoper (2022) | Photo: Wilfried Hösl
Agrippina
Bayerische Staatsoper (2022) | Photo: Wilfried Hösl

Ticket prices

Check out the ticket prices per price category via the link below.

Ticket prices

We offer discounts for specific groups in order to make our performances accessible to everyone. Check this page to see if you are eligible for a discount.

Price
category
Standard CJP | City Pass | 
Youth up to 16
1st € 138,00 € 124,00
2nd € 106,00 € 92,00
3rd € 85,00 € 71,00
4th € 64,00 € 53,00
5th € 45,00 € 38,00
6th € 22,00 € 18,00

Dutch National Opera & Ballet works with a system of dynamic pricing: during the booking period the ticket prices may increase, depending on demand. Prices exclude € 2,00 booking fee per ticket.

Student discount and studentalert
Students can take advantage of discounted tickets for performances at Dutch National Opera & Ballet. From 13.00 on the day of the performance, if it is not sold out, you can buy a ticket online for only € 19 (including booking fee). Have your valid student ID card or proof of enrolment ready to show at the door.

For some performances, we are already giving students the opportunity to book with student discounts. Want to stay up to date with our student offers? Sign up for the studentalert and receive the latest news about offers in your mailbox.

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Review
in the media
24 September

Agent provocateur, enfant terrible, public menace - call him what you will, Barrie Kosky is without doubt one of the most exciting and inventive opera directors on the scene today, and his new production of Handel's Agrippina will clearly be a big winner with audiences.

24 September

Barrie Kosky’s staging, a co-production with the Bavarian State Opera where it opened earlier this year, marks its first appearance at Covent Garden. It’s clever, sharply observed and witty, if occasionally harder edged in tone than Handel intended. (Royal Opera House, London - 2019)

24 September

No 24-year-old wrote an opera with more ear-tickling musical riches than Handel poured into Agrippina. And yes, I've heard of Mozart. 

Artists
Cast
Accademia Bizantina Orchestra

Accademia Bizantina Orchestra

The Italian ensemble Accademia Bizantina was founded in 1983 to play music ‘like a large string quartet’. Since 1996, the ensemble has developed into a force to be reckoned with in baroque music, and in 2021 it was nominated Orchestra of the Year by the British magazine Gramaphone. The ensemble is equally at home in the opera house and the concert hall. It recently released its first production under its own label, Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel. The orchestra is known for the chamber music ambience of its performances. This season, Accademia Bizantina will perform for the first time with Dutch National Opera in Agrippina.

Introduction

An introduction will take place 45 minutes before the start of this performance, during which an expert will give background information and offer interesting perspectives on the performance, allowing you to get even more out of your theatre visit. The introductions are given in Dutch. They can be visited for free and without reservation, by showing your ticket for the performance.

Introduction Agrippina by: Jan van den Bossche
Location: Souterrain

Partners Dutch National Opera Studio

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