Opera Meets Activism: Blue in Amsterdam

Six weeks to the day after my arrival in a very sunny Amsterdam, the European Premiere of Blue, the award-winning opera by composer Jeanine Tesori and liberettist Tazewell Thompson, is behind us.  Met with glowing reviews in the local press, the production tells the story of an African American family – entrepreneur mother, cop father and their son – whose lives, and those of their closest friends are shattered when the son is killed by a white cop.

Dutch National Opera, putting the full resources of its onstage, backstage and public relations operation behind this hot contemporary topic, has been the perfect creative environment, providing concentrated but relaxed working conditions for the show’s international cast, crew and directors. Striking that balance was important, given the raw emotions in many rehearsals and indeed, every performance, as the images in the gallery below illustrate.

I’ve particularly enjoyed my time with the terrific musicians of the Residentie Orchester Den Haag, who made rehearsals enormous fun with their high energy and warm humour. What a great band! After this gig and an extended Christmas break with family, it’ll be back to back concert weeks in the U.S. and Germany. Looking forward to it!

Blue will run at Dutch National Opera for a further four performances until November 22nd, 2022.

Photography: Nationale Opera & Ballet | © Clärchen and Matthias Bausa