Mission
Based in The Hague, OPERA2DAY is a performing arts company that focuses on the production of opera and music theatre. OPERA2DAY takes an enthusiasm for the tradition of opera and embeds it within the time and setting of the modern day (‘2day’). Thereby, it aims to win the hearts of a broad range of audiences for the genre of opera and to expand the development of the life of opera in The Hague and the surrounding region.
At the core, is the genre of opera. The union of music, song and theatre has inspired many highlights of energy and creativity throughout the centuries. Opera is a genre which touches people’s hearts and acts as an outlet for their emotions. Our repertoire is taken from a broad search through a wide range of operatic treasure troves. We perform both known masterworks as well as defending the cause of unjustly forgotten works and in addition add new works to the treasury. All this comes out of the hearts of passionate creators.
Our starting point is early opera. We have developed a specialization in this area. We stem from the famous ‘Dutch school’, who several decades ago laid aside their modern instruments and learned the art of playing on period instruments. They researched historical performance practices, defined and defended them, and put them into the perspective of the modern day. We have the responsibility of safeguarding these achievements, but also to take the next steps in this line of development. It is our desire that The Netherlands continues to play a role at the forefront of historical performance practice. In addition, early opera inspires us to recreate in a modern setting: new methods of presenting opera, and even newly composed works.
Our name consciously comprises two parts. Opera must be embedded in the present time and place. Above all, we consider our audience. We wish to prove that opera has something to offer for everyone. We achieve this through special and unusual staging and forms of presenting opera. By inviting the audience into unexpected locations (for example in our ‘Dolhuys Kermis’ production). Or by bringing opera into untraditional domains (such as in our ‘facebook opera’). By facilitating groups who normally would not have the chance to see opera (for example, our concerts for the visually handicapped). And through each and every project, to develop or highlight the themes of the company.
The choice of The Hague is conscious. This city offers and ideal fertile grounds for opera with a conservatorium with an opera academy (DNOA), a lieder class, as well as an internationally acclaimed department for early music (including voice). OPERA2DAY aims to offer a stage for this talent and at the same time retain these riches for the city of The Hague. Through our productions, we wish to contribute to a lively opera scene in this city. But a few individual performances do not mount up to an opera scene. Therefore, OPERA2DAY has set itself up as a motor for the development of opera in The Hague. OPERA2DAY takes the lead in a development process whereby it collaborates with partnering organisations in the city through tailor-made projects, opera education and particularly, the development of an audience. In addition, the company is also involved in collaborations within metropolis region of The Hague and Rotterdam.
OPERA2DAY is structurally supported by Gemeente Den Haag and Fonds Podiumkunsten.
Business director
Project management & Casting
Chef de Bureau
Head of Marketing
Communication & Content Officer
Dramaturgy
Coordination Participation & Education
General Director / Artistic Director
Serge van Veggel is one of the founders of OPERA2DAY. Over the years, he has developed a highly diverse range of productions there as artistic director, writer, and director. Often, he opts for a conceptual approach, creating new works from existing repertoire. This was the case, for example, with La troupe d’Orphée, featuring Charpentier’s repertoire, Dolhuys Kermis with baroque lamenti, Dr. Miracle’s last illusion with romantic repertoire, and the ‘new baroque opera’ Vivaldi – Dangerous Liaisons. Additionally, he directed productions from the repertoire such as The Fairy Queen (Purcell), La Giuditta (Alessandro Scarlatti), Médée (Cherubini), Hamlet (Thomas), Carmina Burana (Orff), and The Fall of the House of Usher by Philip Glass (as part of the Opera Melancholica production). He crafted the libretto and directed the new opera Mariken in de tuin der lusten, with music by Calliope Tsoupaki. Filmmaker Sonia Herman Dolz documented the creative process in the film Mariken, visioen van een opera. Furthermore, he has created music-theatre productions and staged recitals both within and outside OPERA2DAY. In 2023, he collaborated with three choreographers to develop Song of the Dark Forest for Scapino Ballet Rotterdam.
Musical director
Hernán Schvartzman has worked with ensembles such as Vox Luminis, ASKO|SCHOENBERG, Netherlandse Bachvereniging, Gelders Orkest, Dortmunder Philharmoniker, Orchestra of the Early Music department of the Royal Conservatoire, New European Ensemble, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Dutch Radio Choir, Capella Amsterdam and Tetraktys.
Hernán is the musical leader of Dutch foundation OPERA2DAY and works as guest conductor for other companies such as Juventus Lyrica, Muziektheater Transparant, Nederlandse REISOPERA and Monteverdi Festival di Cremona. A selection of his operatic repertoire includes: Mozart-Da Ponte trilogy, Zauberflöte (Argentinean “Opera of the year” 2013), Cherubini’s Médee, Charpentier’s La Troupe d’Oprhée (Dutch Opera of the Year 2014) a world premiere of Tsoupaki ’s Mariken in the garden of delights, Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, Monteverdi’s l’Orfeo, Rossini’s Le Comte Ory and Thomas’ Hamlet (nominated for the VSCD ovation price 2018).
Hernán Schvartzman graduated “Cum Lauda” from the Masters in Orchestral Conducting and Early Music opera conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. His teachers were Jac van Steen, Kenneth Montgomery, Jos van Veldhoven, Ton Koopman, Reinbert de Leeuw, Peter van Hegyen and Michael Chance.
Hernán was part of the selection committee for the “Composers Showcase” organised by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) where he recorded the award winning chamber music pieces with the wind soloists of the BBC NOW. Hernán teaches “Ensemble Leading” at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague and held the position of main classical music advisor of the Argentinean Ministry of Culture for the opening of the Centro Cultural Kirchner, where he also gave masterclasses to Argentinean conductors, along with the Argentinean National Youth Orchestra.
Hernán Schvartzman was recipient of the prestigious “Huygens” Scholarship, awarded by the Dutch Government, and has also been selected as a “Musical Top Talent”, “Creative top Talent” and “Cultural ambassador of the City” by the municipality of The Hague.
Hernán was nominated as Best Argentinean Conductor of the Year 2014 by the Argentinean Association of Musical Reviewers.
Business director
Project management & Casting
Chef de Bureau
Head of Marketing
Communication & Content Officer
Dramaturgy
Coordination Participation & Education
Michaël Nieuwenhuizen has over 40 years of experience in positions as director, advisor, policy officer, programme manager, lobbyist and supervisor. He is known in the arts and culture sector as an optimistic stayer who, in combination with a large network, has a broad agenda. Michaël combines substantive knowledge of music, visual arts, heritage and media with business and managerial experience. As a creative and strategic thinker, he is strong in setting out and profiling a new course and creating support.
Fatma Kaya (1969) is a connector pur sang and socially involved to the bone. She works as a relationship manager for the JOGG foundation, which stands for healthy youth and a healthy future, and works with municipalities throughout the Netherlands to achieve this. Fatma has always worked in the non-profit sector for trade unions, governments and educational institutions, among others. She was a member of the Supervisory Board of the Koninklijke Schouwburg for six years, was chairman of the Women at Work Foundation in The Hague and is a member of Rotary Club ‘s Gravenhage Kijkduin.
Guus Mostart initially studied medicine. With a scholarship from the then Ministry of C.R.M., he took a stage management course at the London Opera Centre after which he joined the Netherlands Opera Foundation under Hans de Roo. In 1977, he left for the Glyndebourne Festival where he rose from Staff Producer to Associate Director and Director of Production for the Glyndebourne Touring Opera. In the more than 40 years Guus has worked in the opera world, he has held various positions including Director of Artistic Affairs Dutch Opera, Artistic Director Vancouver Opera, Director of Artistic Administration & Dramaturgy English National Opera and Intendant of the National Touring Opera.
George Oostrom is a former CEO of a multinational claims management company. He has worked in several countries and was responsible for the business activities in the Benelux and France. He is a member of NIVRE – the Dutch Institute of Registered Experts, of which he has been (vice) chairman for several years. As a board member, he is still associated with the foundation Calamities and Projects, a foundation affiliated with NIVRE.
In addition, George is a member of various boards related to the insurance sector, such as the Institute of Financial Crime, and he is active as an editorial board member of the Salvage Foundation of the combined fire insurers. George Oostrom has a great passion for opera and classical music.
Lotte Pierik graduated from the Music Theatre programme, at Codarts Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, in 2020.
In 2019, she received the Music Theatre Stipendium from Erasmus University Rotterdam. She chose to change tack in early 2023, focusing on positions behind the scenes. She is now working as Assistant Artistic and Business Director at both Wende Snijders and Stichting MusicalMakers.