A rich history
Dutch Opera Foundation
The company is renamed ‘Dutch Opera Foundation’ and adopts a stagione orientation, inviting different soloists and artistic teams for each new production. The Belgian Maurice Huisman is appointed intendant.
Reconstruction
The controversial Reconstruction - a morality, by a collective from Louis Andriessen, Hugo Claus, Reinbert de Leeuw, Misha Mengelberg, Harry Mulisch, Peter Schat and Jan van Vlijmen, premieres June 29th.
Hans de Roo
Hans de Roo becomes intendant. De Roo paved the way for the Dutch diva Cristina Deutekom and is credited with the ‘discovery’ of singers such as Catherine Malfitano, Gabriela Benackova, Neil Shicoff and Frederica von Stade, who would later become world-class operatic names.
Appreciation Hans de Roo
The Dutch Opera Foundation is awarded the Association of Dutch Theatre Critics Prize. The jury praises Hans de Roo’s artistic policy during the previous five seasons.
De Nederlandse Opera
The Dutch Opera Foundation changes its name to De Nederlandse Opera (DNO) and moves from the Stadsschouwburg to the new Muziektheater building where, with Jan van Vlijmen as intendant and Hartmut Haenchen as music director, a new adventure begins.
The Muziektheater opens
In 1986 the Muziektheater (Music Theatre) on Waterloo Square is opened.
Hartmut Haenchen
Hartmut Haenchen becomes the music director of De Nederlandse Opera and the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. His Strauss, Wagner and Mahler interpretations are renowned. He remains in the position until 1999 and returns many times as guest-conductor for Der Ring des Nibelungen amongst others.
Truze Lodder
Truze Lodder is appointed administrative director. During her 25-year tenure, DNO grows into one of the world’s prominent and trend-setting opera companies.
Jan van Vlijmen
Jan van Vlijmen resigns his post as director, arguing that the government’s proposed financial support is insufficient to guarantee artistic quality.
Pierre Audi
Pierre Audi is named artistic director of DNO. As a stage director at De Nederlandse Opera, Pierre Audi collaborates with visual artists such as Jannis Kounellis, Georg Baselitz and Karel Appel.
Monteverdi-cycle
Pierre Audi's Monteverdi-cycle premieres. The cycle will be on stage regularly until 2007 and with that, put the baroque opera back in the spotlight.
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Pierre Audi’s staging of Der Ring des Nibelungen (Richard Wagner) is premiered this year. Audi’s artistic partners for this cycle include George Tsypin (decor) and Jean Kalman (lighting).
Edo de Waart
Hartmut Haenchen concludes his career as chief-conductor. Edo de Waart becomes the new chief-conductor.
Ingo Metzmacher
Ingo Metzmacher departs as chief conductor.
Johannes Vermeer Prijs
Pierre Audi accepts the first Johannes Vermeer Prize in October. Culture Minister Ronald Plasterk has instigated the prize to recognize and reward exceptional artistic talent.
Marc Albrecht
Marc Albrecht is the new chief conductor of De Nederlandse Opera as well as of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra when Het Muziektheater Amsterdam celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary
Merger of the three organisations
On 31 December 2012, The Amsterdam Music Theatre, De Nederlandse Opera and Dutch National Ballet sign the agreement that will lead to a legal merger of the three art institutions.
Anniversary Pierre Audi
Pierre Audi is, at the time of the merge to Dutch National Opera & Ballet, artistic director opera for 25 years. At that moment, he has made 38 new stagings for the company and is responsible for 180 new productions on stage as company manager.
Els van der Plas
The new organisation kicks off on 1 January, but without a common name for the moment. Els van der Plas is the managing director, Ted Brandsen is the director of ballet and Pierre Audi is the director of opera.
Dutch National Opera & Ballet
From 17 February, Dutch National Ballet, De Nederlandse Opera and The Musictheatre Amsterdam become one organisation. The name Dutch National Ballet stays the same, De Nederlandse Opera becomes Dutch National Opera and the theatre is called Dutch National Opera & Ballet.