401dutchoperas.nl
DUTCH OPERAS & VOCAL ART
This website serves to promote Dutch (and Flemish) Operas. Surprisingly, more than 400 Dutch operas have been composed since Carolus Hacquarts & Dirk Buysero’s opera De triomferende min (The triumphant servant) since 1680.
342 years of Dutch operas
Of the more than 400 operas composed in The Netherlands in the span of 342 years, not a single one has managed to enter even the local repertoire. Among those forgotten operas are the first Dutch baroque operas, mostly in the French style of Lully's Versailles, opéra comiques after Grétry, grand opéras after Auber and Meyerbeer, along with full blooded romantic operas in the style of Verdi or Wagner.
ANTHOLOGY
401DutchOperas is now initiating a book that will include all ca. 250 major Dutch operas composed with extensive plot summarys and musical descriptions. Their composers will be introduced, the genesis and performance history of their works shall be examined, along with a stylistic analyses and an introduction to the highlights of those scores.
An introductory chapter will provide a summary of the history of Dutch opera from its beginnings until its present state of affairs. This should include a survey of the rise and fall of The Netherlands' many opera companies since the 1680s.
STYLE
This website will in time attempt to answer the question if there is 'a Dutch style'. As surprising as it may sound to those coming from countries with a living opera tradition, this is an open question in The Netherlands. The reason: from those operas composed before 1945, there is hardly a single note available in terms of recordings. Scores are partly lost or survive only fragementary, others have to be deciphered from obscure handwritings.
AIM
Our aim is to restore the history of Dutch Operas. Since none of these operas are currently known, we use as much audio visual material as possible, to bring Dutch Operas back to life. The success of our aim is determined by the accessibility of these operas.
401DutchOperas should surprise, and make one curious after these works, their composers and their artistic environment. Only in that way can we hope to achieve our ultimate goal: the revival of Dutch operatic tradition!
