paroolSep 13, 2026, 12:40

Everything is abundant in this opera: Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv knew how to handle it at the Concertgebouw

Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv led the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Groot Omroepkoor in a performance of Korngold’s Die tote Stadt to open the 66th season of the NTR ZaterdagMatinee at the Concertgebouw. The opera, which explores themes of grief and the blurring of reality, featured strong vocal performances from Johanni van Oostrum and Konstantin Krimmel.

The 66th season of the NTR ZaterdagMatinee opened at the Concertgebouw with a performance of Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s 1920 opera Die tote Stadt. The production explored themes of grief and obsession, featuring a complex score that draws from the influences of Richard Strauss, Wagner, and Puccini. Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv led the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Groot Omroepkoor, successfully managing the dense and theatrical instrumentation, which includes an organ, harmonium, and wind machine.

Soprano Johanni van Oostrum and baritone Konstantin Krimmel delivered notable performances, navigating the intense and feverish musical landscape with vocal agility. Lyniv’s approach prioritized precision and the core theatrical narrative over excessive emotional extravagance, ensuring the expressionist tension remained coherent throughout the long work. This performance served as a significant revival of the opera, which was originally brought to the Netherlands by Korngold himself in a 1929 production held in The Hague.

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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