Dates

5-17 Mar 2022

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage

Running time

2:25, incl. 1 intermission

Tickets

Not available

Eurydice

On the art of love

Orpheus and Eurydice’s mythical love story reveals we often only value what we have once it’s gone. For Orpheus, this realisation comes when his great love Eurydice dies, making him aware of how deeply he feels for her. It is this insight that drives him to follow her to the other side and make a crucial decision that changes everything, when he chooses to have one last moment with her.

On the art of love

Inspired by the Greek legend and Rainer Maria Rilke’s Sonette an Orpheus, Manfred Trojahn created Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind - a contemporary, dramatic poem that takes us on an unavoidable journey by train and ship, in which Eurydice meets old acquaintances and Orpheus. Orpheus believes he will enrich Eurydice's life, but once Eurydice steps over the threshold to the 'other side', she no longer feels the need to have a ‘special someone’ to feel fulfilled. Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind invokes the power of music and allegory to portray Eurydice as a muse for Orpheus the singer, while simultaneously depicting Orpheus and Eurydice’s love to be akin to the love between word and sound, and between artistry and inspiration.

Seasoned artists and exciting debuts

More than ten years after his highly-acclaimed Orest, Manfred Trojahn, one of the most important German composers of today, returns to Dutch National Opera. With his latest composition, which is characterised by  an unmistakable French feel and style, Trojahn draws on the rich emotional forms of expression that opera offers as an art form. For this world premiere, Dutch National Opera welcomes back director Pierre Audi, who has brought this well-known myth to our stage before. Baritone André Schuen and soprano Julia Kleiter will be making their DNO debut as this legend’s mythical couple. As rulers of the Underworld, we welcome back baritone Thomas Oliemans and mezzo-soprano Katia Ledoux. Celebrated conductor Erik Nielsen, who conducted Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins last season, returns to DNO to bring Trojahn’s rich score to life with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.

Performance information

Libretto  Manfred Trojahn



Musical direction  Erik Nielsen

Stage direction  Pierre Audi

Set and costume design  Christof Hetzer

Lighting design Jean Kalman

Video  Chris Kondek

Dramaturgy  Klaus Bertisch

Orpheus  Andrè Schuen

Eurydice  Julia Kleiter

Pluto  Thomas Oliemans

Proserpina  Katia Ledoux 

Orchestra  Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Commissioned by Dutch National Opera

Sung in German

Chorus conductor  Klaas-Jan de Groot

Madrigal singers

Lieke Beirnaert

Nicole Fiselier

John van Halteren

Agris Hartmanis

Sara Moreira Marques

Sophia Patsi

Mitch Raemaekers

René Steur

Figuration madrigal singers

Alaaeddin Baker

Mirthe Bron

Frans Dam

Gijs Hanegraaf

Judy Lijdsman

Renzo Popolizio

Rowin Prins

Alexey Shkolnik

Maarten van Grootel (standby)

Trailer - Eurydice Die Liebenden, blind

Trailer - Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind

Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind - podcast

Dramaturge Klaus Bertisch and baritone Thomas Oliemans talk, straight from the rehearsal room of Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind, about this new grand opera by composer Manfred Trojahn (in Dutch).

Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind - podcast

By: Emma Lesuis

In the media
Rave reviews

Trojahn's Eurydice is sensuously beautiful"      

"Grandiose and compelling

9 March

The new opera music, the impressive singing and the convincing acting by soprano Julia Kleiter and baritone Andrè Schuen, who make their DNO debut here, give the opera wings.

7 March

Proserpine, sung with a glowing voice and acted potently by mezzo Katia Ledoux.

7 March

Director Pierre Audi gratefully absorbs the French perfume of this music and concentrates on symbolism and ambiguity.

7 March

The team generates intense scenes and beautiful images: from the train to the creepy steamboat sailing over the dark Styx.

7 March

Right up the alley of director Pierre Audi (...) Pictures and atmospheres to dream of, and great direction of the characters.

6 March
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind
Eurydice - Die Liebenden, blind | Photo: Ruth Walz
Nedpho

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

For over 35 years, The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra have been Dutch National Opera's primary orchestral partners. The orchestra is regarded as one of the best opera orchestras in the world. In September 2021, Lorenzo Viotti became the chief conductor of both the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and Dutch National Opera.

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

In addition to its opera tasks, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is a regular performer in The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The orchestra works with internationally renowned guest conductors and soloists, as well as representatives of a new generation of top musicians. The orchestra makes classical music accessible to everyone who is open to it: not only on the big stages, but also in community centres, schools and hospitals. In this way, the orchestra provides the finest and best music experience for both classical connoisseurs and new listeners.

With its hospitable home auditorium, the NedPhO Dome in Amsterdam's 'Indische buurt', the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is right at the heart of society. Every year, the Orchestra organizes around two hundred activities for music education, neighbourhood participation and talent development.

Production partner

Founding Partners Opera Forward Festival

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