The Dutch National Opera was crowned Opera Company of the Year 2016 at the International Opera Award Ceremony in London’s Savoy Theatre on Sunday night May 15. This means that the Dutch National Opera can be called best opera company in the world for the coming year. 

The jury praised Dutch National Opera for TEKST. Dutch National Opera won over the strong competition of the opera companies Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opera Philadelphia, Polish National Opera, Theater an der Wien and Welsh National Opera. 

Director Pierre Audi about the Award: ‘Dutch National Opera is deeply proud and humbled to have been named Opera Company of the Year 2016. We want to dedicate this award to the future of our artform, to striving deeper to achieve excellence, to the need to risk and innovate, to the joy of educating and sharing our experience with a new generation of makers and new audiences from all walks of life. On behalf of my Company of which I have been a proud leader for 28 years, I want to thank all those who support us and share our vision. This award empowers us to lead by example and inspires us to keep creating challenging work that proves in these difficult times, that opera matters!’ 

The international Opera Awards were founded in 2012 and are the most highly acclaimed prize in the opera world. The awards are widely regarded as the Oscars of the opera. Judging of the International Opera Awards is carried out by a jury of industry professionals headed by Opera editor John Allison.  

Press release Dutch National Opera