Kent Nagano and The Snow Queen

Programme

  • Hans Abrahamsen The Snow Queen (Dutch premiere)

Kent Nagano conducts Hans Abrahamsen's only opera to date: The Snow Queen, after Hans Christian Andersen.

Seemingly classic story
In 2019 in Munich, Abrahamsen's The Snow Queen had its premiere, an opera based on Andersen's fairytale about the children Kay and Gerda, who are separated by the evil snow queen but will eventually find each other again. It seems to be a classic story about the eternal battle between good and evil. The queen kidnaps Kay, after the splinters of a devil's mirror have made him cold and indifferent. Gerda eventually delivers him from evil.

Snow Queen in a new light
Abrahamsen, however, places the story in a different light. For him, the Snow Queen is closer to Sarastro from Mozart's Zauberflöte, the priest who leads Tamino and Pamina to their purification through an initiation ritual. She is also a formative force, and it is no coincidence that he has a bass-baritone sing her role. Thus, this complex fairy tale becomes a story about love, the loss of innocence and the road to maturity.


Date:
Saturday, 4 June 2022
Time:
14:15
Intermission:
Yes
Location:
The Royal Concertgebouw

Amsterdam
-
Large Hall

Performers

Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
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Kent Nagano
Conductor
Netherlands Radio Choir
Choir
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Benjamin Goodson - Photo: Paolo Ferla
Benjamin Goodson
Choir conductor
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Mari Eriksmoen
Soprano, Gerda
Seth Carico
Bass-baritone, Snow queen / Reindeer / Clock
Helena Rasker
Alt, Grandmother / Old lady / Finn woman
Owen Willetts
Countertenor, Castle crow
Paul Curievici (c) Nick Ritte
Paul Curievici
Tenor, Forest crow
Rainelle Krause
Soprano, Princess
Lucas van Lierop
Tenor, Prince
Rachael Wilson
Mezzo-Soprano, Kay
Varvara Tishina
Soprano, Angel voice
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Charlotte Janssen
Soprano, Angel voice
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