A Bite at the Opera '19-'20

In the 2019-2020 season, OPERA2DAY, together with the Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, presented their program series A bite at the opera for the second time. Four evenings with four different operas and four different menus. The chef of Brasserie Zindering took his inspiration from the music in question. Between courses, OPERA2DAY performed a variety of opera fragments, from Bizet’s melancholic music to an exuberant Zauberflöte, and collaborated with various ensembles and artists.

Sunday 8 December 2019 - A bite at... Die Zauberflöte 

With Die Zauberflöte, Mozart created a fairytale opera that both amuses and moves. For December's 'Bite', OPERA2DAY was inspired by the atmosphere of this masterpiece: by the enchanting world of birdman Papageno, the dark stories of the Queen of the Night and the search for light. Of course we heard the famous aria of the Queen of the Night, but also other music one might hear in this magical world.

Sunday 16 February 2020 - A bite at... The Fairy Queen

The Fairy Queen was the first opera that OPERA2DAY ever staged. Around 1700, Purcell turned Shakespeare's 'Midsummer Night's Dream' into festive music theater. Different love stories intertwine in this famous comedy full of shapeshifting and sorcery. Purcell's contemporaries were served a lavish evening of theater, including food and plenty of drink. OPERA2DAY was inspired by that time. The Scroll Ensemble, previously our guest at another A bite at the opera, improvised to Purcell's music, and the kitchen brigade played along.

Sunday 22 March 2020 - A bite at… L’Elisir d’amore

Donizetti's cheerful farce L'Elisir d'amore is set in the Italian countryside. With sparkling bel canto music and authentic Italian dishes, we treated the audience to a varied evening about love. We followed the young Nemorino who is in love with the beautiful village girl Adina. What happens when he buys an indefinable commodity - a love potion? - from quack Dulcamara? This opera proved a great source of inspiration for the cooks. Because nowhere else is Italian cuisine as authentic and pure as in the countryside.

Sunday 10 May 2020 - A bite at… Carmen

Few composers have put Spain on the opera stage as thrillingly as French Georges Bizet. In Carmen he brought the world of flamenco and bullfights to life in an unparalleled way. A dive into the life of the gypsy Carmen, who wraps the soldier Don José around her little finger, but puts him aside as soon as he wants to limit her freedom. Arias and duets from this passionate opera were interspersed with other pieces that suited the wild world of Carmen and culinary dishes from the Spanish kitchen.