Dutch National Opera

The Four Note Opera

Tom Johnson (1939)

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Photo: Marta Syrko

Dates

15-17 March 2024

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Studio Boekman

Running time

1:10, no interval

Tickets

Dark satire about singers who have nothing to say

I always feel very uncomfortable in the Final Scene.
But what can we do?
That is the way the opera is written.
We have no control over such things.

Inspired by Luigi Pirandello’s meta-theatre, composer Tom Johnson wrote a piece for a group of singers who have only four notes at their disposal (A, B, D and E) and couldn’t sing about anything other than the opera they are now performing in. Of course, such is an impossible situation: the opera ends in utter rigidity.

Photo: Marta Syrko

Presentation by Dutch National Opera Studio

Fifty years ago, the Four Note Opera was a mocking reflection on opera norms. What about now? Is the play itself out of date, or is the criticism still relevant? How much influence do today’s singers have over the roles they play? And how much influence do opera directors have over their own creative process?

Director Kenza Koutchoukali goes into the rehearsal room for several weeks with five singers from the Dutch National Opera Studio. Based on the ultimate meaningless opera, they investigate the expressiveness of opera as an art form. They will present the result during the Opera Forward Festival in Studio Boekman.

Performance information

Libretto Tom Johnson

Stage direction Kenza Koutchoukali
Scenography and costume design Yannick Verweij
Lighting design Coen van der Hoeven
Dramaturgy Laura Roling, Wout van Tongeren
Musical direction Alejandro Cantalapiedra

Singers members of Dutch National Opera Studio:
Soprano Sophia Hunt
Alto Martina Myskohlid
Tenor Salvador Villanueva
Baritone Georgiy Derbas-Richter
Bass Mark Kurmanbayev
Pianist Daniel Ruiz de Cenzano Caballero

Co-production with the Nederlandse Reisopera and Opera Zuid

Online programme

Along with the printed programme book, we also offer online programme information for this performance. The online programme will take you behind the scenes with in-depth stories, articles, and interviews with the creators and cast.

Check out the online programme

Opera Forward Festival

Inspiring, challenging and innovative. Immerse yourself in the 8th edition of the Opera Forward Festival (OFF) from 8 to 17 March. With musical performances by both established names and a new generation of creatives, OFF embraces innovation and ventures into uncharted territory with inventive and pioneering music theatre shows. Discover The Four Note Opera and more at OFF!

Find out more about OFF