Opera Forward Festival: Urgent, compelling and extravagant

The Opera Forward Festival is a contrarian exploration of uncharted territory. From classical singing to jazz, techno, spoken word and noise. The Opera Forward Festival presents performances by artists from a variety of disciplines. Each of them showcases possible future directions and influences for the art form of opera.

Gregory Caers
The performances of director Gregory Caers and students from the MBO Theaterschool Rotterdam have been a favorite part of the Opera Forward Festival for years. With his penetrating theatrical language, Caers formulates a physical response to opera. ANIMA(LS) therefore begins where the OFF production Animal Farm ends. Animals move among humans and behave like them. They mirror, imitate and pose – in a frantic attempt to squeeze themselves into a straitjacket. But how long until something breaks?

Talks
Opera is a genre that can move, and can spark movement. Therefore, during the Opera Forward Festival, we will discuss stereotyping, the climate crisis, inclusion, and the power and responsibility of both the genre and the institution. The TALKS will take place on Monday evening March 6 and Tuesday evening March 7 in our foyer.

Immerse yourself in musical performances and presentations by established names as well as a new generation of creators.

Labs
The Opera Forward Festival challenges the creators of the future to make opera their own. Students from various art schools are inspired by the genre and by each other’s ideas and craftsmanship. During the festival you will experience their research, and discoveries in a variety of forms: the LABS.

Free entrance
On the Saturday afternoons of March 4 and 11, you can visit the program for free, with continuous entrance and exit.