Operadagen Rotterdam Announces World, National Premieres

The 11th edition of Operadagen Rotterdam, from May 20 to 29, is more complete and newer than ever. The program themed 'New ways' includes more national and international premiers than previous editions. Operadagen Rotterdam presents the complete program today, also the start of ticket sales.

First underwater opera ever

Operadagen Rotterdam is famous for its groundbreaking shows on special locations. This season too, visitors can enjoy a diversity of opera and music theatre performances. The Nolet site just outside Rotterdam will be hosting AquaSonic, the first underwater opera ever. The musicians and singers perform completely underwater in large basins, while the audience can listen on dry land to the wonderful music by this Danish collective.

Up on the roof...

Just as exceptional is Parsifal, the Wagner opera that will be renewed by director Arlon Luijten, honoring the 75th celebration of the rebuilding of Rotterdam. The finale of Parsifal takes place on the rooftop of the Groot Handelsgebouw in the city centre, an example of rebuilding architecture after World War II. On the rooftops as well, of the Bijenkorf warehouse, Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen' takes place. A muscial journey through the humourous sonatas on love from Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. This concert will be performed by Operagen's Nieuwe Stemmen, a group of young and upcoming (inter)national singers.

...or underground

The Nieuwe Stemmen also perform in 40 living rooms throughout Rotterdam, presenting the inhabitants and a small group of visitors with an intimate mini concert. Other special locations the Nieuwe Stemmen will attend are the catacombs under the city's Oostplein, usually not accessible to the public. For this one time however, these ancient tombs will open up to let Orfeo literally descend underground in 'Orfeo's Night Song'.

Nomination Classical:NEXT Award

Operadagen Rotterdam is divers, yet easily accessible to a large audience. These are only two reasons why the international branche network Classical:NEXT shortlisted the festival as the only Dutch cultural organisation for an Innovation Award. The selection committee calls Operadagen Rotterdam "an audience friendly festival with groundbreaking performances, often linked to topical themes such as the regugee problem and equality."

Societal relevance

The societal relevance of Operadagen Rotterdam can be found in this year's highlight 'Toxic Psalms' by Carmina Slovenica, a choir addressing human cruelty, sprung from religious motivation. 'A Postcard from Aleppo' focuses on the current situation in Syria. The actors, singers and musicians are partly Syrian regugees who tell the true story of the Aleppo residents in a spherical musical monologue.

International stars

Operadagen Rotterdam presents this season too a broad range of international festival stars, among whom director Leonardo García Alarcon (Amore Siciliano), sopranos Claron McFadden, Nicola Wemyss and Nora Fischer (Il Ballo delle Ingrate) and counter tenor Dominique Visse (Wonderful Deluxe). More information can be found on www.operadagenrotterdam.nl.

About Operadagen Rotterdam
Operadagen Rotterdam is an international opera and music theatre festival, hosting more than 22.000 visitors in 2015. The 10-day festival offers contemporary opera and music theatre not only to aficionados but also to a new audience. Operadagen Rotterdam was nominated Best Festival during the International Opera Awards 2015.

Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York:

"Operadagen Rotterdam has earned an important place within the global arts and culture arena for its consistent quality of performance of music theatre and contemporary opera".

"We recognize the intelligent and insightful leadership work of Guy Coolen and his team as they construct a range of new artistic experiences for their Festival and the Music Theatre NOW endeavor. Operadagen Rotterdam is a valuable resource. The cultural life of The Netherlands is enriched by their creative pursuits in Rotterdam. Operadagen Rotterdam has earned my highest esteem".

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