Dear Opera-goer

Siegfried, the third part of the Ring-tetralogy, heralds the opening of our new season 2011-12. We are now half-way through this great project and the Nationale Reisopera is especially delighted that the first two parts, Das Rheingold and Die Walküre , produced by Antony McDonald, were warmly embraced by press and public. The Estonian tenor Mati Turi makes his debut as the eponymous hero, next to Judit Németh and Harry Peeters, who return as Brünnhilde and The Wanderer. It goes without saying that the musical direction is in the hands of Ed Spanjaard.

In 2002 the Nationale Reisopera opened the Holland Festival of Early Music with a production of Rameau's Platée, in collaboration with Opera O.T. from Rotterdam. It scored a bullseye, judging from the reactions of press and public. This sparkling staging by Gerrit Timmers, Mirjam Koen and Ton Lutgerink leaves nothing to the imagination. If you missed the production at the time, now is your chance to enjoy this delectable opera at last.

Because of overwhelming success, La traviata, directed by Monique Wagenmakers is being revived in January 2012. Peter Auty returns as Alfredo, while the Bulgarian soprano Petya Ivanova makes her debut with the Reisopera as Violetta. Roland Wood, who made a great impression in Un ballo in maschera , will interpret the role of Germont.

Gijs de Lange was responsible for a witty staging of The Mikado a number of seasons ago. This season we welcome him back as director of La nozze di Figaro. The well-known Dutch soprano Johannette Zomer, who has often been a guest with us, will sing Susanna and the Irish bass-baritone John Molloy will take the role of Figaro. Het Orkest van het Oosten will be under the baton of its own chief conductor, Jan Willem de Vriend.

We close the season with a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor. This 'evergreen' by Donizetti has never been in the repertoire of the Nationale Reisopera. Following the successful production of Don Pasquale, I invited director Wim Trompert to undertake the direction of this opera. Interestingly, the three main roles will be sung by the same three singers who can be heard in La traviata: Petya Ivanova, Peter Auty and Roland Wood.

I am very pleased you are here and hope to be able to greet you at one of the performances in the Netherlands.

 

Guus Mostart

Intendant