New Season 2014-2015 in Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, the DNO (De Nederlandse Opera) changed its name to Nationale Opera & Ballet, but it will continue to perform mainly in the Muziektheater. The season brochure has grown from a convenient size (13.5 x 20 cm.) to a A4 size. Though Pierre Audi remains directeur, it seems to have lost its most attractive asset which was to propose at least one world première every season.

Here are the productions to be presented in Amsterdam next season :

- Claudio Monteverdi : Orfeo, conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado, directed by Sasha Waltz (new production). Further performances are scheduled in Luxembourg, Baden-Baden and Berlin ;
- Emmanuel Chabrier : L'Etoile, conducted by Patrick Fournillier, directed by Laurent Pelly (new production) ;
- Richard Wagner : Lohengrin, conducted by Marc Albrecht, directed by Pierre Audi (revival, already performed in February 2002) ;
- Giacomo Puccini : La Bohème, conducted by Renato Palumbo, directed by Benedict Andrews (new production) ;
- Gioachino Rossini : Il Viaggio a Reims, conducted by Stefano Montanari, directed by Damiano Michieletto (new production);
- Georg Friedrich Haendel : Tamerlano and Alcina, conducted by Christophe Rousset, directed by Pierre Audi (both revivals, both at the Stadsschouwburg, both first performed in October 2005) ;
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Die Zauberflöte, conducted by Marc Albrecht, directed by Simon McBurney (revival, first performed in December 2012) ;
- Giuseppe Verdi : Macbeth, conducted by Marc Albrecht, directed by Andrea Breth (new production) ;
- Hector Berlioz : Benvenuto Cellini, conducted by Mark Elder, directed by Terry Gilliam (coproduction with the English National Opera in London. It will open there in June 2014) ;
- Alban Berg : Lulu, conducted by Fabio Luisi, directed by William Kentridge (new production) ;

This season is rather disappointing, compared to previous seasons which usually included a new opera. At least, half of the operas are not revivals. Here is an incomplete list of operas performed there for the first time :

- Martijn Padding : Laika, June 2014 ;
- Robin de Raaff : Waiting for Miss Monroe, June 2012 ;
- Manfred Trojahn : Orest, December 2011 ;
- Peter-Jan Wagemans : Legende, February 2011 (first staged production) ;
- Alexander Raskatov : A Dog's Heart, June 2010 ;
- Louis Andriessen : Writing to Vermeer, January 2000 ;
- Louis Andriessen : Rosa, a Horse Drama, November 1994 ;
- Peter Schat : Symposion, May 1994 ;
- Alfred Schnittke : Life with an idiot, April 1992.