Dates

22-29 Oct ’23; tour 5 en 12 Nov ’23

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Studio Boekman + Tour

Running time

1:00

Tickets

n.a.

A song for the moon

Based on the book by Toon Tellegen (6+)

A Song for the Moon can be seen again in season 2024 - 2025. Check here for more information.

“A wonderful production for young and adult audiences alike”, wrote the Dutch newspaper NRC after the premiere of A Song for the Moon. Theaterkrant magazine concluded that the production “deserves to become a regular part of the repertoire”. After a break of two years, this heart-warming children's opera about the power of music is back.

Photo: Michiel Spijkers

Based on the book by Toon Tellegen (6+)

The lonely Mole decides to write a song to cheer up the Moon. The Grasshopper rehearses with his orchestra until they have mastered the song and then one night they give an amazing concert. But why does the Moon look so sad afterwards?

 

‘My first opera’

A Song for the Moon is based on Toon Tellegen’s book of the same name, a fable about the power of music. Composer Mathilde Wantenaar turned the story into a wonderful ‘My first opera’ experience for a young audience and their parents. It is an accessible yet multi-layered work of music theatre that does precisely what the story is about, namely letting the music move you emotionally.

 

Making contact

When Mathilde Wantenaar read Toon Tellegen’s book A Song for the Moon, she fell in love with it immediately. “The story appealed to my musical imagination. It deals with important topics such as loneliness, identity, disappointment and friendship. It is also about the power of music and the ability to make contact with one another.” Wantenaar got to know stage director Béatrice Lachaussée and set designer Nele Ellegiers during a workshop organised by ENOA (European Network of Opera Academies), which DNO is involved in. The idea for this children’s opera emerged from their discussions together.

Performance information

Sung in Dutch

Libretto  Mathilde Wantenaar and Willem Bruls, based on the book by Toon Tellegen

Stage direction  Béatrice Lachaussée

Set and costume design  Nele Ellegiers

Video design  Coen Bouman

Lighting design  Cor van den Brink

Dramaturgy  Willem Bruls

Musical coach  Leonard Evers

Mole  Vera Fiselier

Field mouse / Moon  Ginette Puylaert

Dormouse / Cricket  Eline Welle

Frog  Jan-Willem Schaafsma

Grasshopper / Earthworm  Berend Eijkhout

Shrew  Mirna Ackers

Nationaal Jeugdorkest  (National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands)

Violin Nadia ten Kate                                   

Viola Bart Folkers                                        

Cello Simon Velthuis                                   

Flute, alto flute, piccolo Mirna Ackers                                      

Clarinet in B-flat, bass clarinet in B-flat, bassethorn

Ana Margarida Barradas Prazeres     

Guitar Piotr Lipowicz  

Commission and co-production  of Dutch National Opera, De Munt (Brussel), Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía (Madrid), Opera Zuid (Maastricht)

School performances

A number of performances will be given especially for schools. Look here for more information.

Lesmateriaal voor scholen

Voor scholen die één van de speciale schoolvoorstellingen bezoeken, is voorbereidend materiaal beschikbaar. Dat lespakket is hier te vinden. 

A song for the moon - Trailer

The moon is pleased when he hears a song

5 reasons to look forward to ... A Song for the Moon

Lied voor de maan
The Mole | Photo: Kim Krijnen
Lied voor de maan
The Grasshopper | Photo: Kim Krijnen
In de media
Lovende reacties

Het is een heerlijke voorstelling voor jong en oud.

22 March

Een mooie keuze, want Tellegens verhaal gaat niet alleen over samen muziek maken, maar ook over omgaan met teleurstellingen en het opnieuw proberen.

22 March

Een lied voor de maan: speels en leerzaam.

22 October

Geen wonder dat de maan een lach laat zien: Een lied voor de maan ademt in alles een aanstekelijk plezier.

22 March
National Youth Orchestra

National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands

The NJO National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands was founded in 1957 and has been offering a stage to young talented musicians between 18 and 26 for over sixty years. Since 2019, the National Youth Orchestra and the Jeugdorkest Nederland have joined forces as Nationale Jeugdorkesten Nederland. Earlier, the orchestra performed at Dutch National Opera in their productions of Il matrimonio segreto and The Boy who grew too fast. In the season 2023-2024, the National Youth Orchestra will be featured in the youth opera A Song for the Moon.

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