Opera Forward Festival 2023

SATURDAY 4 MARCH

Opera Studio x OFF
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
14.00 – 14.45

Opera has the power to touch the soul directly. The young singers of Dutch National Opera Studio therefore perform music that has special meaning for them in a 'lecture recital'. Featuring tenor Ian Castro, sopranos Elenora Hu and Sílvia Sequeira, baritone Georgiy Derbas-Richter, countertenor Jake Ingbar and pianist Amy Chang.

OTION
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
15.00 – 15.45

Inspired by hip-hop culture, neo-soul music and his Afro-Surinamese heritage, artist OTION organically blends song, spoken word, dance and live music with a strong emphasis on storytelling.

Tyshawn Sorey X ICE
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
16.00 – 16.45 

American composer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey has a background in jazz and a love of improvisation – he previously performed at the Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival. Within the festival, he not only presents the production Perle Noire: Meditations for Joséphine, but also treats us to a jam session with musicians from the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) in the foyer.

The ‘Jonge Honden’ of Splendor
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
17.00 – 17.45

A stone's throw from Dutch National Opera & Ballet is Splendor, a clubhouse, platform and laboratory for musicians full of creative ideas. Within Splendor, an important place is reserved for their ‘Jonge Honden’ (or 'Young Blood') - artists at the beginning of their careers get the chance to be part of the musical laboratory for two years. Shaza Manla, Hessel Moeselaar, Maripepa Contreras and Tatiana Rosa join forces in a vibrant performance for OFF.

For more information about Splendor: www.splendoramsterdam.com

Artist Talk Peter Sellars
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
18.00 – 18.30  

American director Peter Sellars is known not only for his directing of repertory operas, but also for his efforts on behalf of new opera projects and artists. Topics such as social justice, responsibility and inclusivity are high on his agenda. In this artist talk, he talks about his role in the OFF production Perle Noire, shares his love for opera and his vision of the opera of the future.

SATURDAY 11 MARCH

Composers panel
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
14.00 – 14.55

What does it take to compose opera in the 21st century? What role does tradition play and how important is it to find new influences from outside the world of classical music? Composers connected to the Opera Forward Festival start the conversation.

Nastya Vogan & Albert van Abbe present Лісовi піснi live ft. Mariia Knihnytska
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
15.00 – 15.45

Лісові Пісні - translated as 'forest songs' - is a collaboration between Ukrainian electronic composer Nastya Vogan and Dutch DJ, producer and sound artist Albert van Abbe. Together with Ukrainian opera singer Mariia Knihnytska, they have created a composition for electronics, piano and soprano, inspired by the mystery and beauty of Ukrainian mythology and folklore.

‘Vrij Spel’ with Jet Berkhout
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
16.00 – 16.45

In Vrij Spel (‘Free Play’) on NPO Klassiek, host Jet Berkhout challenges young musicians to breathe new life into a classical piece. Now, live in the foyer, she presents a special OFF edition with, among others, saxophone player Tom Sanderman, pianist Vera Kooper, mezzo-soprano Eline Welle, cellist Diederik van Dijk, ud player Mehmet Polat, viola da gamba player Robert Smith and viola trio Three Violas.

Spoken word X Choral singing
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
17.00 – 17.25

Poetic stories meet harmonic vocal lines and explore a shared future. Spoken word artist Lev Avitan and an ensemble of singers, including from The Chorus of Dutch National Opera, present the result of their research: what does a fusion of their disciplines sound like? An important new step in the prominent role spoken word has played in recent editions of the Opera Forward Festival.

Reimagining Opera - Noise, tekno, post-punk & impro
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
18.00 – 18.45

What does 'opera' mean in the 21st century? Experimental voice artist Stephanie Pan (one of the artists in the 2022 OFF production I Have Missed You Forever) explores this question from the perspective of the underground club scene, experimental electronics and improvisation. She does so together with a collective of leading experimental artists: Marc Alberto, Floris van Bergeijk, Lynn Cassiers, Ji Youn Kang and Stelios Manousakis. In collaboration with V2_Lab for Unstable Media in Rotterdam.

Rory Ronde
Dutch National Opera & Ballet foyer
19.15 – 19.50

Rory Ronde is a Dutch guitarist who collaborates with Wouter Hamel, Roos Jonker and is part of New Cool Collective. His solo work is released under his pseudonym Kofi Anonymous.

Are you going to see a performance at Dutch National Opera & Ballet as part of the Opera Forward Festival? You may also notice pop-up SOUNDS by the following artists:

Dominique Vleeshouwers
Dominique Vleeshouwers is known for his versatility and out-of-the-box performances. In 2020, he was the first percussionist to be awarded the Dutch Music Prize, and in 2014 he caused a stir by winning first prize, press award and audience award at the TROMP International Percussion Competition. The year before, he had graduated cum laude from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with the performance Child Soldier, which won him the AHK Finals Award.

Soheil Shayesteh
Multi-instrumentalist Soheil Shayesteh is a violinist, kamanche player and electronic musician. His unique sound palette explores the interfaces between contemporary classical music, Persian traditional music and experimental and interactive electronics.

Omar Medina
With a background in Mexican folk music, free-improv, and contemporary pop music, Mexican composer/producer Omar Medina creates sound worlds that are not tied to any particular tradition, but invoke our imagination.

Nabou Claerhout
The work of Antwerp-based trombonist and composer Nabou Claerhout reveals an unconditional love for her expressive instrument. Her music-making is adventurous, but at the same time feels like coming home.

Charmaine
Charmaine is a Rotterdam-based DJ serving up a broad palette of sounds, ranging from jazz-fusion to powerful disco and Chicago house, and from dubbed-out electronics to soothing soul.

Edgar Ramiro
When listening to the sets of DJ Edgar Ramiro, a member of the Hot Mama Hot collective, it is impossible to stand still. His musical style, inspired by music from all over the world, is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.