What's On

Opera

Mr Finney and The World Upside Down is a children's book written by Princess Laurentien (wife of Queen Beatrix' third son, Constantijn) with illustrations by Sieb Posthuma. It has now been turned into an opera for all ages by the composer Joey Roukens.

The story of a fish who travels the world meeting and learning from a host of animals, is performed (in Dutch) by the Asko-Schoenberg Ensemble and five opera singers. The colourful costumes are based on Posthuma's illustrations.

Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam, May 19; Schouwburg, Arnhem, May 26; Theater aan de Parade, Den Bosch, June 2; Stadsschouwburg, Groningen, June 8; Stadsschouwburg, Utrecht, June 9.

All performances are matinees.

www.mrfinneydeopera.nl

Verdi's tragic opera based on Alexandre Dumas' La dame aux camélias, La Traviata, is directed by Willy Decker, with sets and costumes by Wolfgang Gussmann. Marina Poplavskaya and Joyce el Khoury share the title role.

Muziektheater, Amsterdam, May 17, 20 (matinee), 23, 26 (matinee), 29 and 31.

www.dno.nl

The annual opera festival takes in existing and new works together with activities such as a special walk taking in three operas in surprising locations. Among this year's highlights are Katia Kabanova by Janácek, Don't Look Back Baby which is a contemporary work based on the Orpheus myth, and the music theatre piece Moby Dick.

There are also war songs by Heiner Goebbels and Monteverdi, a live version of the film Nine which was in turn based on Fellini's film 8½, and The Secret History of Yodelling.

Schouwburg and other venues, Rotterdam, May 25 to June 2.

www.operadagenrotterdam.nl

Puccini's melodrama Tosca is directed by Nicola Glück, who also designed the sets. Rossana Potenza sings Tosca with Adriano Graziani as Cavaradossi and Daniel Henriks as Baron Scarpia. Stefan Veselka conducts the Brabants Orchestra.

Parktheater, Eindhoven, May 18; Theater aan de Parade, Den Bosch, May 23; Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht, May 25; Danstheater, The Hague, May 28; Stadsschouwburg, Utrecht, May 30; Schouwburg, Tilburg, June 1; Stadsschouwburg, Groningen, June 11; Chassé Theater, Breda, June 13.

www.operazuid.nl