Herman Finkers: Na De Pauze

The Dutch comedian Claudia de Breij looks back on the year 2022.

The full title of this Dutch film is Pervola: Tracks in the Snow. A stockbroker moves away from his home village of Pervola and puts his two sons in charge of his business. Older brother Hein (Bram van der Vlugt) cheats younger brother Simon (Gerard Thoolen) out of his share, claiming that Simon was disinherited because he is homosexual. Hein grows powerful, while Simon seems to weaken with each passing day. Flash-forward several years: the dying stockbroker calls his sons to his side. Faithful Simon agrees to dad's wishes that he be buried in Pervola, but Hein doesn't want to go to the trouble of transporting the body; he finally agrees to help Simon, out of fear that his brother will learn of his long-ago treachery. While arduously journeying to Pervola with the father's body strapped to a sled, Hein inadvertently confesses; Simon, however, is of strong enough moral fibre to forgive his brother.

A visually stunning paean to spiritual pilgrimage that creates a world of intense reverence, distinctly Asian in its imagery. Set to Georgian folksongs with 3½ tons of shimmering golden grains of rice.

The Dutch comedian Peter Pannekoek looks back on 2021 with his dark humour. An ode to the consistent corona policy of the Dutch cabinet, the selflessness of Sywert van Lienden and the greatness of Lil 'Kleine.

Since it's premiere in a tiny suburban theatre in Vienna, Die Zauberflote has delighted audiences young and old for over 200 years. Mozart's Singspiel seamlessly alternates seriousness and jollity, and combines philosophical ideas with a fairytale world of wondrous animals and magical musical instruments. Emanuel Schikaneder's original production was theatrically inventive, and this new interpretation from director Simon McBurney emulates that in fresh and current terms. Fusing music, technology and stagecraft, this exciting production gives Die Zauberflote a refreshing new treatment that is both thrilling and simple in it's approach. Following an overwhelming success on stage, McBurney's unique production received five-star reviews in the Dutch press: 'a feast for the eyes and the ears' (Het Parool) and 'Delicious!' (Trouw).

With music and stories, Claudia de Breij paints a portrait that blends domestic details with global news: being kind, wanting to be seen, overstimulation, abstinence, dictators, and restaurant tunes.

1. Opening, 2. Ein brief aus holland, 3. Je kunt er geen voorstelling van maken, Mijn broer, 5. Tante Sien, 6. Verkoopt U ook kussentjes? 7. De Ardennen, 8. De omroeppastor, 9. Recept voor een wilde eend, 10. Bonnie of een onmogelijke liefde, 11. Condooms of een onmogelijke liefde, 12. Het meisje van de slijterij, 13. Paterswolde, 14. Klein Duimpje, 15. Trouw nog eenmaal met mij, 16. In de sneeuw van Tirol, 17. Visite, 18. De Kikkerrap, 20. Gebarentaal, 21. Het meisje van de slijterij - besluit.

Recorded at the Musiektheater, Amsterdam on 21 & 25 January 2008. Performed by De Nederlandse Opera, composer Jean-Philippe Rameau's renowned tragedy "Castor et Pollux" tells the myth-based story of the selfless love between two brothers: Castor, who is mortal, and the immortal Pollux. When Castor dies trying to prevent the kidnapping of the woman he loves, Pollux decides to become mortal and replace his brother in the Underworld. Finnur Bjarnason, Henk Neven and Anna Maria Panzarella star.

A respected police commissioner has a reputation as a opera lover, but by night he also enjoys plunging into the transvestite scene. In addition, he harbors a longing for his very own sister. When he learns that his wife has been murdered, he tries to implicate the set designer who has designs on his sister.

Television registration of the eponymous performance by the Dutch comedian Claudia de Breij. Based on the life story of revue artist Heintje Davids, De Breij sings, dances and tells about a little girl who was told by her father that she was 'too fat and ugly' for the stage. Later, when she had long conquered that stage, there were people who decided that people like Heintje were too Jewish to be allowed to be there. But whoever stopped her, whatever happened: Heintje was there, and she always came back.

Opera lies at the heart of Rimsky-Korsakov's colourful idiom, but performances are few and far between; this realisation of his penultimate and grandest stage work is a very rare and special experience. Kitezh is known as "the Russian Parsifal", which encapsulates its mystical flavour and steady unfolding of a legend of redemption

After a siege of ten years, the Greeks leave Troy. A giant wooden horse has been left on the beach. Despite Cassandra's dark premonitions, the offering is borne into the city...Pierre Audi directs Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek and American tenor Bryan Hymel in this epic Berlioz's opera, that requires an omnipresent chorus, a huge orchestra and a great virtuosity from the solists.

In Guy Joosten's ingenious production of Bellini's masterpiece, Norma is about more than just beautiful singing. It becomes a layered, timeless drama in which Norma is the archetypal successful woman struggling to retain her dominant but vulnerable position. Hasmik Papian's lyrical and intense interpretation of the title role accentuates the striking similarity between a Druid high priestess and a modern opera diva. Conductor Julian Reynolds guides the brilliant cast, choir and Netherlands Chamber Orchestra to great heights, providing a refreshing new take on the chef d’oeuvre of bel canto.