J.S. Bach - The Apocalypse
the opera that Bach never wrote

On the occasion of the centenary of the Netherlands Bach Society, OPERA2DAY and the Bach Society present J.S. Bach – The Apocalypse: 'the opera that Bach never wrote'. A successor of Vivaldi - Dangerous Liaisons, the ‘new baroque opera’ by both partners, that was enthusiastically received by audience and press in 2019. In the words of the opera critic of Dutch newspaper the Volkskrant: “This combination of historicizing and innovative opera practice cannot be applauded loudly enough.”
J.S. Bach - The Apocalypse premiered on 9 February 2022 at the Royal Theatre of The Hague. Due to the uncertain circumstances because of the Covid pandemic, the premiere was also the last performance. The tour will be postponed to 2024.
A dream comes true: on the occasion of the centenary of the Netherlands Bach Society, OPERA2DAY and the Bach Society present J.S. Bach – The Apocalypse: ‘the opera that Bach never wrote’.
For much of his life, Bach worked as a cantor in Leipzig, composing a great deal of church music. If things had turned out slightly different, he might also have become a celebrated opera composer. The dramatic power and radical innovations in his passions and cantatas even suggest that he may have conquered a unique place in opera history. With J.S. Bach – The Apocalypse you can hear what a Bach opera might have sounded like!
Bach's universal and timeless music, which so masterfully covers all aspects of human emotions, demands an equally dynamic libretto. An exciting story was found in the 16th century, an era full of natural disasters, violence and social discontent. J.S. Bach - The Apocalypse tells the story of Jan van Leyden. This Dutch actor, café owner and tailor, claimed that the end of time was near and convinced his followers that they could be the chosen ones at the Last Judgment. He subsequently crowned himself as king of a fundamentalist community in Münster, Germany, which soon evolved into a city-state under tyrannical leadership. Power, corruption and mass hysteria are at the heart of this almost archetypical chronicle of fundamentalism. The story therefore contains many parallels to our society today. The performances of the opera will be at the center of a range of activities exploring the theme, both in and outside the theatre.
The dramatic and musical scenario of J.S. Bach – The Apocalypse was developed by Serge van Veggel, artistic director of OPERA2DAY, and director of the performance. The leading German librettist Thomas Höft wrote the libretto. Composer Panos Iliopoulos, creator of a contemporary oeuvre as well as harpsichordist and baroque specialist, turns the opera - in which Bach's music plays the leading role - into a through-composed total. The musical direction is in the hands of Hernán Schvartzman, the musical director of OPERA2DAY.
J.S. Bach – The Apocalypse is a co-production of OPERA2DAY & the Netherlands Bach Society
ARTISTIC TEAM
Music Johann Sebastian Bach, Panos Iliopoulos
Libretto Thomas Höft
Scenario and stage direction Serge van Veggel
Musical direction Hernán Schvartzman
Scenography Herbert Janse
Light design Uri Rapaport
Technical production Ronald Tebra
Costumes Mirjam Pater
Hair & make-up Pilo Pilkes
Artistic leader Netherlands Bach Society Shunske Sato
CAST
Jan van Leyden Florian Sievers, tenor
Bernhard Knipperdollinck Wolf Matthias Friedrich, bass/baritone
Bishop / Jan Matthijsz Sytse Buwalda, countertenor
Dieuwer Brouwersdochter Cecilia Amancay Pastawski, mezzosoprano
Bernhard Rothmann Mattijs van der Woerd, baritone
Henrick Hendrickz / Jacob Dusentschuer Kaspar Kröner / Oscar Verhaar, countertenor
Claes Janssen / Envoy / Priest Wiebe-Pier Cnossen, baritone
Marijtje IJsbrandsdochter / Elisabeth Wandscherer Viola Blache, soprano
Heinrich Gresbeck Jobst Schnibbe, actor
Katharina Lauren Armishaw, soprano
Woman in rebellious group (scene 3) Emilie Wijers, alto
Friend of Jan van Leyden Jasper van Hofwegen, actor
The Bishop’s Captain Niels van Laar, actor
The Bishop’s Soldiers Boris van Bochoven, Elmer Jurriaanse, Janusz Pawlak, Zweitze Zwart, supporting actors
VOCAL ENSEMBLE THE NETHERLANDS BACH SOCIETY
Sopranos Lauren Armishaw, Aldona Bartnik (solo), Amelia Berridge, Heleen Bongenaar
Altos Mercè Bruguera Abelló (solo), Georgia Burashko, Oscar Verhaar, Emilie Wijers
Tenors Felipe Gallegos, Pablo Gregorian, João Moreira (solo), André Pérez Muíño
Basses Matthew Baker, Hidde Kleikamp, Mitchell Sandler (solo), Samuel Wong
ORCHESTRA THE NETHERLANDS BACH SOCIETY
Violin Shunske Sato, Sayuri Yamagata, Anneke van Haaften, Lidewij van der Voort, Andrew Wong
Viola Staas Swierstra, Femke Huizinga
Cello Lucia Swarts
Double bass Robert Franenberg, Hen Goldsobel
Viola da gamba Alex Baker, Anna Lachegyi
Traverso Marten Root, Doretthe Janssens
Oboe Rodrigo Lopez Paz, Katharina Verhaar
Bassoon Benny Aghassi, Yukiko Murakami
Trumpet Christopher Price, Amir Rabinovitz
Timpani / percussion (on stage) Marianna Soroka, Robert Kendell
Organ / harpsichord Siebe Henstra
Theorbe Mike Fentross, Rafael Arjona Ruz
Tuner organ / harpsichord Eduard Bos
UNDERSTUDIES
Jan van Leyden, vocal Jan Willem Schaafsma
Jan van Leyden, actor, and others Merijn de Jong
Heinrich Gresbeck Howard van Dodemont
Bernhard Knipperdollinck Wiebe-Pier Cnossen
Bernhard Rothmann Matthew Baker
Bishop Franz von Waldeck Kaspar Kröner
Dieuwer Brouwersdochter Georgia Burashko
Marijtje IJsbrandsdochter Amelia Berridge
Claes Janssen, and others Hidde Kleikamp
Katharina Heleen Bongenaar
Woman on the lookout Mercè Bruguera Abelló
Sunday 13 Mar 2022 - 14:30 HOUR
Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag

Addres: Korte Voorhout 3
City: 2511 CW Den Haag
Phone: 088 356 5 356
Saturday 12 Mar 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag

Addres: Korte Voorhout 3
City: 2511 CW Den Haag
Phone: 088 356 5 356
Friday 11 Mar 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag

Addres: Korte Voorhout 3
City: 2511 CW Den Haag
Phone: 088 356 5 356
Wednesday 09 Mar 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
De Goudse Schouwburg, Gouda
Addres: Boelekade 67
City: 2806 AE Gouda
Phone: 0182 - 513 750
Tuesday 08 Mar 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Parktheater, Eindhoven

Addres: Elzentlaan 50
City: 5615 CN Eindhoven
Phone: 040 - 2111122
Saturday 05 Mar 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie, Leeuwarden
Addres: Ruiterskwartier 4
City: 8911 BP Leeuwarden
Friday 04 Mar 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
SPOT Groningen (Stadsschouwburg), Groningen
Addres: Turfsingel 86
City: 9711 VX Groningen
Phone: 050-3680368
Wednesday 02 Mar 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Koninklijk Theater Carré, Amsterdam

Addres: Amstel 115-125
City: 1018 EM Amsterdam
Phone: 0900 - 25 25 255 (€ 0,45 p/m)
Thursday 24 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Stadstheater Zoetermeer, Zoetermeer
Addres: Theaterplein 10
City: 2711 EK Zoetermeer
Wednesday 23 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Flint, Amersfoort
Addres: Coninckstraat 60
City: 3811 WK Amersfoort
Phone: 033 4229 229
Saturday 19 Feb 2022 - 20:15 HOUR
Schouwburg Kunstmin, Dordrecht
Addres: Sint Jorisweg 76
City: 3311 PL Dordrecht
Phone: 078 639 79 79
Friday 18 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Schouwburg Amstelveen, Amstelveen
Addres: Stadsplein 100
City: 1181 ZM Amstelveen
Phone: 020 547 51 75
Wednesday 16 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Theaters Tilburg, Tilburg
Addres: Louis Bouwmeesterplein 1
City: 5038 TN Tilburg
Phone: 013 543 22 20
Tuesday 15 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Theater Rotterdam (Schouwburg), Rotterdam
Addres: Schouwburgplein 25
City: 3012 CL Rotterdam
Phone: 010 - 40 44 111
Sunday 13 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, Utrecht
Addres: Lucasbolwerk 24
City: 3512 EJ Utrecht
Phone: 030-23 02 023
Friday 11 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Theater Kerkrade, Kerkrade
Addres: Theaterplein 30
City: 6461 DR Kerkrade
Phone: 045-571 66 07
Wednesday 09 Feb 2022 - 19:00 HOUR
Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag

Addres: Korte Voorhout 3
City: 2511 CW Den Haag
Phone: 088 356 5 356
Tuesday 08 Feb 2022 - 19:00 HOUR
Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag

Addres: Korte Voorhout 3
City: 2511 CW Den Haag
Phone: 088 356 5 356
Saturday 05 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Deventer Schouwburg, Deventer

Addres: Leeuwenbrug 2
City: 7411 TJ Deventer
Phone: 0900 3000 200
Friday 04 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
TAQA Theater De Vest, Alkmaar
Addres: Canadaplein 2
City: 1811 KE Alkmaar
Phone: 072-5489999
Wednesday 02 Feb 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
30CC, Leuven (BE)
Addres: Bondgenotenlaan 21
City: 3000 Leuven (BE)
Phone: 016 300 900
Sunday 30 Jan 2022 - 19:00 HOUR
Stadsschouwburg Haarlem, Haarlem
Addres: Wilsonsplein 23
City: 2011 VG Haarlem
Phone: 023 - 512 12 12 (keuze 1)
Wednesday 26 Jan 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Stadsschouwburg Nijmegen, Nijmegen
Addres: Keizer Karelplein 32h
City: 6511 NH Nijmegen
Phone: 024-3221100
Sunday 23 Jan 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag

Addres: Korte Voorhout 3
City: 2511 CW Den Haag
Phone: 088 356 5 356
Saturday 22 Jan 2022 - 20:00 HOUR
Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag

Addres: Korte Voorhout 3
City: 2511 CW Den Haag
Phone: 088 356 5 356
Sunday 16 Jan 2022 - 15:00 HOUR
Theater aan de Schie, Schiedam
Addres: Stadserf 1
City: 3112 DZ Schiedam
Phone: 010-2467467
DURATION OF THE PERFORMANCE
Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes (intermission not included).
SUBTITLING
The opera will be sung in German, with English and Dutch subtitling.