The company is renamed ‘Dutch Opera Foundation’ and adopts a stagione orientation, inviting different soloists and artistic teams for each new production. The Belgian Maurice Huisman is appointed intendant.
The controversial Reconstruction - a morality, by a collective from Louis Andriessen, Hugo Claus, Reinbert de Leeuw, Misha Mengelberg, Harry Mulisch, Peter Schat and Jan van Vlijmen, premieres June 29th.
Hans de Roo becomes intendant. De Roo paved the way for the Dutch diva Cristina Deutekom and is credited with the ‘discovery’ of singers such as Catherine Malfitano, Gabriela Benackova, Neil Shicoff and Frederica von Stade, who would later become world-class operatic names.
The Dutch Opera Foundation is awarded the Association of Dutch Theatre Critics Prize. The jury praises Hans de Roo’s artistic policy during the previous five seasons.
The Dutch Opera Foundation changes its name to De Nederlandse Opera (DNO) and moves from the Stadsschouwburg to the new Muziektheater building where, with Jan van Vlijmen as intendant and Hartmut Haenchen as music director, a new adventure begins.
Hartmut Haenchen becomes the music director of De Nederlandse Opera and the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. His Strauss, Wagner and Mahler interpretations are renowned. He remains in the position until 1999 and returns many times as guest-conductor for Der Ring des Nibelungen amongst others.
Truze Lodder is appointed administrative director. During her 25-year tenure, DNO grows into one of the world’s prominent and trend-setting opera companies.
Jan van Vlijmen resigns his post as director, arguing that the government’s proposed financial support is insufficient to guarantee artistic quality.
Pierre Audi is named artistic director of DNO. As a stage director at De Nederlandse Opera, Pierre Audi collaborates with visual artists such as Jannis Kounellis, Georg Baselitz and Karel Appel.
Pierre Audi's Monteverdi-cycle premieres. The cycle will be on stage regularly until 2007 and with that, put the baroque opera back in the spotlight.
Pierre Audi’s staging of Der Ring des Nibelungen (Richard Wagner) is premiered this year. Audi’s artistic partners for this cycle include George Tsypin (decor) and Jean Kalman (lighting).
Hartmut Haenchen concludes his career as chief-conductor. Edo de Waart becomes the new chief-conductor.
Ingo Metzmacher departs as chief conductor.
Pierre Audi accepts the first Johannes Vermeer Prize in October. Culture Minister Ronald Plasterk has instigated the prize to recognize and reward exceptional artistic talent.
Pierre Audi is, at the time of the merge to Dutch National Opera & Ballet, artistic director opera for 25 years. At that moment, he has made 38 new stagings for the company and is responsible for 180 new productions on stage as company manager.