Dutch National Opera presents
Thu 03 Jun
19:30 hours
Sun 06 Jun
14:00 hours
Wed 09 Jun
19:30 hours
Wed 16 Jun
19:30 hours
Sun 20 Jun
14:00 hours
Wed 23 Jun
19:30 hours
Sun 27 Jun
14:00 hours
Wed 30 Jun
19:30 hours
Tickets on sale
17 Nov 12:00
17 Nov 12:00
With The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Burning Passion
The Faust season is rounded off with an adventure headed straight for damnation. La damnation de Faust is a monumental opera in which the search and longing for love are the point of focus.
A DEMONIC CHOIR
Hector Berlioz score is passionate and tumultuous. Music with the intensity of a feverish nightmare. La damnation de Faust (1846) was originally written for the concert stage. It is a cross between an opera, an oratorio, and a cantata. Berlioz depicts the fateful itneraction between Faust, the devil Méphistophélès, and the angelic Marguerite. A versatile role is reserved for the Chorus of Dutch National Opera, which in the finale of La damnation de Faust represents the demons in the bowels of hell.
Mon 10 Feb
The Guardian - Calixto Bieito
'His vivid productions have electrified audiences and challenged the critics.'
CREATIVES
The Spanish stage director Calixto Bieito, famous and infamous for his very original interpretations of the opera repertoire, makes his DNO debut with this new La damnation de Faust. He is a master at bringing the dark side of humanity to the stage in powerful, energetic visuals. The set design is by the Opera Award winning Rebecca Ringst.
The American tenor John Osborn returns to Dutch National Opera as Faust – his sixth lead role at DNO. Faust’s lover, Marguerite, is sung by the French-British mezzo-soprano Anna Stéphany, who makes her house debut. The American bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen, who bowled over audiences as the demonic Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress, once again climbs into the skin of the devil in La damnation de Faust.
The Royal Concertgebouworchestra, with its formidable reputation in the large-scale symphonic repertoire, is the ideal partner for an opera by master orchestrator Hector Berlioz. The musical direction is in the capable hands of Berlioz specialist François-Xavier Roth.
In cooperation with Holland Festival
La damnation de Faust
Dramatic legend in four parts
Libretto
Hector Berlioz and Almire Gandonnière
Team, Cast and Chorus
- Musical direction
- François-Xavier Roth
- Stage direction
- Calixto Bieito
- Decor
- Rebecca Ringst
- Costume designer
- Ingo Krügler
- Light designer
- Michael Bauer
- Ochestra
- Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
- Chorus
- Chorus of Dutch National Opera
- Chorus master
- Ching-Lien Wu
- Children's Choir
- Nieuw Amsterdams Kinderkoor
Instudering:
Anaïs de la Morandais
- Marguerite
- Anna Stéphany
- Faust
- John Osborn
- Méphistophélès
- Kyle Ketelsen
- Brander
- Frederik Bergman (Dutch National Opera Studio)
ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is counted among the world’s leading orchestras. It is known for its unique sound and stylistic flexibility and works with leading composers and conductors. Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky have conducted the orchestra more than once. Since its foundation in 1888, there have only been been seven chief conductors: Willem Kes, Willem Mengelberg, Eduard van Beinum, Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Chailly, Mariss Jansons and Daniele Gatti. Currently, the position is vacant. The RCO Academy is a trainee programme for young, talented musicians. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will join us for La damnation de Faust in 2021.
CHORUS OF DUTCH NATIONAL OPERA
The Chorus of Dutch National Opera consists of 50 singers and is regularly supplemented by freelance chorus members for major productions. The Chorus of Dutch National Opera already has many milestones to its name, including Saint François d’Assise, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Ercole amante, Boris Godunov, La Juive, Les Troyens, Eugene Onegin, Parsifal, Guillaume Tell, The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, Faust, La forza del destino, Das Floß der Medusa, Oedipe and Tannhäuser, as well as concert performances of Der fliegende Holländer in Rotterdam, Paris and Dortmund and Daphnis et Chloé with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev. Since September 1, 2014 Ching-Lien Wu is artistic director of the Chorus of Dutch National Opera. Earlier in the 2019- 2020 season, the chorus gave stellar performances in Pagliacci/Cavalleria rusticana, Nabucco and Carmen. In 2016 the Chorus was awarded the title of ‘Best Opera Chorus’ by the authoritative magazine Opernwelt. In the 2020-2021 season the Chorus will sing in Mefistofele, Le nozze di Figaro, Aida, Der fliegende Holländer, Die lustige Witwe, Anna Bolena and La damnation de Faust.
INTRODUCTORY TALKS
Experts share their thoughts on current productions Dutch National Opera & Ballet offers an introductory talk 45 minutes before each performance. An expert will share background information, context and interesting details that can give your theatre visit more depth. The talks are in Dutch and are free to all the ticket holders. You can also find an abridged version of the introduction on our website as a podcast.
Time: 45 minutes before the performance
Location: Odeonzaal; ground floor entrance
FOYER EVENINGS
Several weeks prior to the premiere of a performance, while the process of creation is still in full throttle, we invite singers, dancers, makers and other experts to share their thrill in creating this production. Sometimes your guide will be a single speaker, at other times other participants will join the discussion; there will always be live dance or music to enjoy, making this a fine way to experience opera and ballet up close. You’ll find the Foyer Evening dates in the calendar overview at the back of this brochure or on our website.
Foyer Evening La damnation de Faust: 17 May 2021, 20.30 at Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Odeonzaal
Time: 60 minutes
Price: € 10, € 7,50 (students, CJP, Stadspas)
