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“Fantastic” – Göteborgs-Posten

HAMLET

Our Artistic Director for Opera/Drama, Stephen Langridge, directs this magnificent tragic opera about Shakespeare’s enigmatic Danish prince. 

Trailer
“Langridge’s best production in Sweden so far” — Dagens Nyheter
“The music is at once powerful, captivating and sensual” — Expressen
“[Oliemans’] performance is magnificent” — Sveriges radio P4
“The immortal work becomes magical” — Borås Tidning

Ambroise Thomas’ magnificent Hamlet has had to wait a long time for its Swedish premiere – especially considering the Swedish references in the work! Ophelia's role was originally written for the diva Christina Nilsson, who was asked to suggest a Nordic folk song to insert into the poignant madness scene in the fourth act. The folk song she suggested is Näcken's polka, a permanent reminder to opera audiences the world over who the role was written for. 

Thomas Oliemans
Marco Borggreve

This season Ofelia’s challenging coloratura will be performed by Ditte Højgaard Andersen from Denmark. Hamlet will be played by the Dutch baritone Thomas Oliemans, who had great success with us last season as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. The role of Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, who from Hamlet’s point of view betrayed both husband and son for another man, will be shared by the acclaimed mezzo-sopranos Katarina Karnéus and Ann-Kristin Jones. 

Stephen Langridge, Artistic Director for Opera/Drama will direct – focusing on political manipulation and family relationships so convoluted that they would drive anyone to madness.

This production is set in a modern society where there are watchful eyes everywhere, and where it is a challenge to know what is real, what is illusion and what is paranoid delusion. The young Hamlet finally succumbs to the chaos of emotions that follows.

Thomas Oliemans (Hamlet) and Katarina Karnéus (Queen Gertrud) rehearsing
Mats Bäcker


”The music in Thomas’ opera reminds us of such diverse operas as "La Traviata" and "Evgenj Onegin" but is a cosmos of its own. Fantastic writing for the voices and inventive instrumentation, going as far as using the saxophone, the latest instrument of his time, makes listening to this opera an unforgettable experience. The music illustrates the story and is spiced with powerful choruses and mysterious orchestra intermezzi. A fantastic opera by a French composer about a Danish Prince with an English ancestor, a beautiful Swedish folk-tune stands central in Ophélie’s famous aria and in a humming chorus in the Finale.” — Henrik Schaefer, Conductor
Artistic Director Stephen Langridge discusses the production

Images from the show

Photographer: Mats Bäcker

Alternate endings

Hamlet has two alternate endings. At the very first performance in Paris the opera concluded with Hamlet being crowned King, and Queen Gertrud entering a nunnery. For the premiere at Covent Garden in England, Thomas composed a more Shakespearean ending in which Hamlet takes his own life. 

We will be performing different endings on different evenings, as listed below. For the Swedish premiere of Hamlet we will present the same ending as at the first performance in Paris.

  • The Paris ending will be performed on: 9, 17, 23 April, 6, 15, 21 May.
  • The London ending will be performed on: 15, 20, 27 April, 8, 19 May.

#GOhamlet

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