Dutch National Opera

Die Passagierin

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919 – 1996)

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Photo: Hugo Thomassen

Dates

17 April – 2 May 2026

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

2:45, incl. 1 interval

Tickets

From € 25

Vrouw in een deuropening en een schaduw achter haar

Photo: Hugo Thomassen

An opera about the shadow of Auschwitz

A ship bound for the future, a past that won’t disappear. In Die Passagierin, the German Lisa is travelling with her husband on an ocean steamer to Brazil. It is 1960, and the couple is looking ahead to the future. But when Lisa believes she recognises one of her fellow passengers as the Polish Marta, she is thrown back into a past she had hoped to forget. Lisa was an SS camp guard at Auschwitz, and Marta was one of sher prisoner.

The music of Mieczysław Weinberg is one of the hidden gems of the 20th century. His 1968 opera was first performed only in 2006 and has since gained increasing recognition. This new production, directed by Tobias Kratzer, was crowned ‘Production of the Year’ by the magazine Opernwelt in 2024.

Grand and moving

In the 1930s, the Polish composer Weinberg fled the Nazi regime and settled in Russia, where, as a Jew, he once again faced fierce antisemitism. His opera Die Passagierin (1968) was praised by his close friend Dmitri Shostakovich for its “beauty and grandeur”.

Weinberg based Die Passagierin on the work of Zofia Posmysz, an Auschwitz survivor. Her autobiographical novel was one of the first to also explore the Holocaust from the perpetrators' perspective. The opera is not so much about the horrors humans are capable of, but rather about guilt, complicity, and the question of whether we can truly confront our past.

A remarkable cast and conductor

The up-and-coming young conductor Adam Hickox will take the Netherlands Philharmonic through Weinberg’s haunting score. Mezzo-soprano Jenny Carlstedt, who previously made a strong impression in Innocence by Kaija Saariaho, takes on the role of Lisa. Lyric soprano Sylvia D’Eramo portrays the poignant role of Marta.

Ticket sales start

Ticket sales for Die Passagierin start on 28 August 2025 at 12 noon. Don’t want to miss this on-sale moment? Sign up for our ticket alert and receive a notification when ticket sales open.

Performance information

New production at Dutch National Opera

Opera in two acts

Sung in multiple languages

Music Mieczysław Weinberg

Libretto Alexander W. Medvedev

Musical direction Adam Hickox
Stage direction Tobias Kratzer
Set and costume design Rainer Sellmaier
Lighting design Michael Bauer
Video Manuel Braun, Jonas Dahl
Dramaturgy Christopher Warmuth

Lisa Jenny Carlstedt
Walter Nikolai Schukoff
Marta Sylvia D’Eramo
Tadeusz Gyula Orendt
Old Lisa Sibylle Maria Dordel

Netherlands Philharmonic

Chorus of Dutch National Opera
Chorus master Edward Ananian-Cooper

Production of the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich

Step onto the stage in this powerful opera

Ever wanted to take part in an opera? This is your chance! As part of a large-scale participation project, around a hundred participants will have the unique opportunity to perform on stage during Die Passagierin. They will experience up close how this production comes to life. In addition, a contextual programme will be organised around the performance, which takes place during the period of the National Remembrance Day on 4 May. More information will be published on this page in due time.

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Ticket prices

We provide discounts tailored for certain groups to ensure our performances are accessible to all. Please visit this page to determine if you qualify for a discount.

Price category	Standard	CJP \| Stadspas \| Youth aged 16 and under
1^st	€ 144,00	€ 126,00
2^nd	€ 110,00	€ 100,00
3^rd	€ 91,00	€ 75,00
4^th	€ 66,00	€ 54,00
5^th	€ 47,00	€ 39,00
6^th	€ 22,00	€ 18,00

Dutch National Opera & Ballet uses a system of dynamic pricing. This means that tickets for popular performances may increase in price as the performance date approaches and more tickets are sold. All prices exclude the booking fee (€ 3 per ticket).

Student discount and student alert

Last-minute deal! When a performance isn’t sold out, students can purchase a ticket online for just € 20 on the day of the performance starting from 13:00.

To stay updated on more offers, sign up for our student alert. This way, you’ll be informed in advance about which performances you can attend for just € 20!

Ticket sales for Die Passagierin start on 28 August 2025 at 12 noon. Don’t want to miss this on-sale moment? Sign up for our ticket alert and receive a notification when ticket sales open.