Dutch National Opera

Les enfants terribles

Philip Glass (1937)

Check availability

Dates

13 – 15 March 2026

Location

Extern, tour

Running time

TBA

Tickets

TBA

Young opera talent sings Glass’ poetic masterpiece

Les enfants terribles by Philip Glass is a haunting and poetic chamber opera, in which the obsessive relationship between a brother and sister leads to a tragic end. The hypnotic piano music enhances the intimate nature of this poignant work.

Glass based his 1996 composition on the novel of the same name by Jean Cocteau. The story revolves around teenagers Paul and Lise, who retreat into a Parisian apartment after the death of their mother. Their innocent games spiral into a destructive power struggle, drawing others into their intrigues. Slowly, the siblings push each other towards a tragic conclusion.

There could be no better performers for these roles than the talents of the Dutch National Opera Studio, the two-year programme of Dutch National Opera, which prepares young singers for an international career.

Collaboration between Dutch opera companies

Director Béatrice Lachaussée has previously staged the family production A Song for the Moon at Dutch National Opera and La voix humaine and L’heure espagnole at Opera Zuid. Her refined style and musical sensitivity make her the ideal stage director for this modern classic, which will be presented for the first time at Dutch National Opera.

Les enfants terribles is produced by Opera Zuid in close collaboration with Dutch National Opera and Nederlandse Reisopera. Each year, these opera companies join forces for a production featuring the singers of the Dutch National Opera Studio, to be performed at venues around the Netherlands. The programme is led by the internationally renowned soprano Rosemary Joshua.