The Netherlands Philharmonic presents a sparkling end-of-year program. Conducted by the young Italian maestro Michele Spotti, the orchestra will perform highlights from the Italian, Central European, and French opera traditions, with a touch of light music.
Festive Holiday concert by the Netherlands Philharmonic
From the emotions of Puccini's La Bohème to the seduction of Bizet's Carmen ; from the lush waltzes of Strauss' Die Fledermaus to the energy of Rossini. This is opera as the Netherlands Philharmonic – the Netherlands' leading opera orchestra – does it best: from compelling to light-hearted and festive.
This program is given an extra festive flair with a touch of Bernstein, a nod to the dance floor, and in the encore – don't tell anyone! – a warm and charming final chord from Édith Piaf.
Brilliant soloists
At the center are three voices that have already made Dutch opera hearts beat faster. Russian soprano Inna Demenkova was part of the Dutch National Opera Studio and previously collaborated with the Netherlands Philharmonic in Verdi's Requiem, conducted by former chief conductor Lorenzo Viotti. NRC wrote: “with her Requiem aeternam, she draws the audience in.”
Mezzo-soprano Teresa Iervolino and tenor Dumitru Mîțu recently shone at the Dutch National Opera. Opera Magazine praised Iervolino's “beneficial alto voice” in her performance as Cornelia in Handel's opera Giulio Cesare (DNO). And NRC had a special mention “for the wonderfully agile tenor Dumitru Mîțu” in his role as Grigori in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov (also DNO).
Michele Spotti
The Italian conductor, who is making his debut with the Netherlands Philharmonic with this program, is known as one of the most promising conductors of his generation. Michele Spotti (1993) is musical director of the Opéra de Marseille and will become principal guest conductor of the Deutsche Oper Berlin from the 2026/2027 season. He has been appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres . He has recently conducted at the Vienna State Opera, the Opéra de Paris, and the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, among others, and in 2026 he will make his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
