Amsterdam Opera House is part of the Stopera, a building that also houses Amsterdam's city hall.
The Dutch National Opera and Ballet in Amsterdam is home to three institutions: the Dutch National Opera, the Dutch National Ballet and the Ballet Orchestra.
This establishment is located on the banks of the River Amstel on the Waterlooplein, in one of the oldest parts of the city.
Amsterdam Opera: article summary
The history of the Amsterdam Opera House
The idea of building a complex that would house an opera house and city hall first appeared in 1915. It took a long time for the plan to materialize, but in 1981, the city council finally decided to go ahead with the project, calling it the Stopera.
Dutch architect Cees Dam was commissioned to construct the building in collaboration with Austrian Wilhelm Holzbauer, who was responsible for the town hall.
The Stopera celebrated its official opening in 1986, and the town council moved to the new town hall in 1988.
The opera part of the building, formerly known as The Muziektheater, is now called The National Opera and Ballet. Don't confuse it with the Muziekgebouw.
The latter is just a modern contemporary music concert hall on Amsterdam's waterfront, close to the main station.
Unique architecture in the heart of Amsterdam
The opera house's architects were faced with a major challenge. They had to integrate the construction plans for the opera house and city hall into a single project. The first floor features see how they overcame this difficulty.
The town hall merges functionally and spatially with the opera house, and the covered streets harmoniously integrate the building. One of the building's most striking features is the 14-meter curved white façade facing the Amstel River.
A venue that quickly became the national opera house
Since its creation in 1964, the Dutch National Opera (Nederlandse Ntionale Opera) has been renowned for its daring productions. The National Opera stages a wide range of modern and contemporary operas. innovative new productions of the standard classical repertoire.
They have performed works as varied as Verdi's "Il Trovatore", Humperdinck's "Hänsel und Gretel" and "Adam in Ballingschap" by contemporary Dutch composer Rob Zuidam. The company is directed by Pierre Audi, who has been Artistic Director since 1988.
The Dutch National Ballet
The National Ballet (Het Nationale Ballet) is one of the world's leading ballet companies. The National Ballet's high artistic and technical standards attracts young talent from all over the world.
The National Ballet not only stages the Romantic repertoire, such as Tchaikovsky's ballets and Adam's "Giselle", but also presents ballets from the 20th century. The company has been directed since 2003 by Australian choreographer Ted Brandsen.
An exceptional orchestra to accompany the Ballet
The Ballet Orchestra (Het Balletorkest, formerly Holland Symfonia) accompanies the Dutch National Opera and Ballet in Amsterdam, and also gives symphonic concerts at the Concert Hall of Haarlem.
The orchestra is involved in educational projects. With its segmented programming, it targets specific audiences. The program features the traditional symphonic repertoire, but also avant-garde and family concerts.
What are the opening hours?
To make the most of this place, you can go during the day. For example, you can visit the Amsterdam Opera House:
- Monday to Friday from 12 am to 6 pm (or until the curtain rises)
- Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (or until the curtain rises)
When there are no performances, the establishment closes on Sundays and public holidays.
As far as the opera's programming is concerned, I advise you to visit the opera's website. You'll be able to see the opera's program in real time.
You can also order your tickets online to enjoy this exceptional venue and its performances.
Amsterdam's National Opera House is a must-see if you love classical music. You'll be able to discover a place of exquisite architecture. You can also immerse yourself in the history of the building and its history. learn more about Amsterdam during your vacation.
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