Ajax
Peter Sellars, American National Theater
In 1987 the Holland Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary. One of the special guests was Leonard Bernstein, who conducted Mahler’s Fourth and Schubert’s Fifth symphonies. He had also been present at the very first festival in 1948. But he was not the only major name: Peter Sellars directed Ajax, in which the protagonist of Sophocles’ drama had become an American general.
William Forsythe presented a full-length choreography, and two evenings were devoted to composer György Kurtág as part of the cultural exchange between the Netherlands and Hungary.
Also on the programme were so-called country presentations in the context of Amsterdam as Cultural Capital, works by contemporary American composers such as Reich, Cage, Nancarrow and Feldman, an international puppet theatre festival, two productions by the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, and performances from Bantu-speaking Africa and from India.
Peter Sellars, American National Theater
Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz
Voorheen ADM
Theater der Jugend
Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz
Teatro delle Briciole
Teatro ‘O Bando’
The Gate Theatre
Nina Wiener and Dancers
Dansgroep Krisztina de Châtel
Nederlands Dans Theater, Jonathan Taylor, Nacho Duato
Ton Simons & Dancers, Reflex
Het Nationale Ballet
De Hexe Production
Cie L’Esquisse
De Hexe Production
Ensemble Shri Ganesha Yakshagana Mandall
Ballet van de Hongaarse Staatsopera
Chhau dansgroep
Ensemble Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam
Ballett der Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt, William Forsythe
Hamburgische Staatsopera, Alexander von Zemlinsky
De Nederlandse Opera
Concertgebouworkest, Gioachino Rossini
Luigi Dallapiccola, Radio Symfonie Orkest, Groot Omroepkoor
Nationale Opera van Brussel
Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Residentie Orkest, Fodor Kwintet, Omroep Kamerkoor, Raschèr Saxofoonkwartet
Concertgebouworkest, Leonard Bernstein
Nederlands Blazers Ensemble
Ensemble Modern, Nederlands Kamerkoor
Traditionele muziek en dans van de Wagogo, de Makonda en de Mkuria
Gustav Leonhardt, Frans Brüggen, Endre Kovács, Bernard Winsemius, Ewald Kooiman
Franz Liszt Kamerorkest Boedapest
Steve Reich, Schönberg Ensemble, Slagwerkgroep Den Haag, BBC-Singers
Traditionele xylofoonmuziek van de Chopi
Schönberg Ensemble
Radio Kamerorkest
Traditionele muziek en dans van de Luvale, Tonga, Kaonde, Lozi en Lupala
Ursula Oppens
Kipanda ensemble uit Oeganda
Márta Kurtág, György Kurtág, Adrienne Csengery, András Keller
Ursula Oppens, Frances-Marie Uitti, Charles van Tassel, Prunella Pacey
Nieuw Ensemble
Asko Ensemble
Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Arditti String Quartett
Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Vera Beths, Conlon Nancarrow, Yvar Mikhashoff
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Gidon Kremer
Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Groot Omroepkoor
Welcome to the Holland Festival archive! The history of our festival dates back to 1947. Through the programs of each festival edition we aim to tell this history here. Currently our archive has been digitised from 1990 onwards, more history is to follow soon. Sadly some information is only available in Dutch but we aim to be as bilingual as possible. For additions or tips send an email to [email protected].