A tribute to the magic of baroque opera with contemporary circus and musical fireworks
OPERA2DAY and the Netherlands Bach Society present The Opera Circus, a performance in which the baroque operas of Georg Friedrich Händel merge with contemporary circus arts. This production pays homage both to the grandmaster of dramatic music and to the visual spectacle theatre of his time. The Opera Circus will premiere on 15 January 2026 at the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague, after which it will tour to fourteen theatres across the country through March, presenting a total of twenty performances.
For the first time, director Serge van Veggel (OPERA2DAY) and circus director Aedín Walsh join forces in The Opera Circus: a production where opera and circus are seamlessly integrated into one continuous narrative. Händel’s music forms the foundation, with arias and instrumental works from Alcina, Orlando, Teseo, Arminio and others, performed by soloists and the musicians of the Netherlands Bach Society under the baton of Hernán Schvartzman. The production is inspired by historical theatre techniques, featuring flying rigs, sliding flats, rapid set changes, live sound effects, and the acting and storytelling style of baroque opera. With contemporary circus disciplines, the musical spectacle theatre of the 18th century comes vividly back to life.
Director Serge van Veggel on the production: “At OPERA2DAY we have often honoured baroque music. In The Opera Circus, we also honour the spectacle of baroque opera itself: the stagecraft, the rapid scene changes, the sound effects. A production incorporating circus has been on our wish list for some time — and baroque spectacle proved the perfect match. And of course, this is all carried by the music of Händel, performed by the baroque specialists of the Netherlands Bach Society.”
A Happy End in Sight?
In an apocalyptic landscape, two gods have waged a merciless war of vengeance for centuries as their world continues to crumble around them. This destructive cycle is disrupted when a travelling circus troupe unexpectedly enters their domain. Their presence breaks through the stalemate and brings new movement and colour to the surroundings. In the encounters between the two groups, shifting dynamics emerge — revealing conflict, transformation, and the gradual possibility of reconciliation.
Next Step in Collaboration
The Opera Circus builds on earlier co-productions by OPERA2DAY and the Netherlands Bach Society, centred on Vivaldi (Dangerous Liaisons) and Bach (J.S. Bach – The Apocalypse). Both tours drew sold-out audiences and received enthusiastic praise from press and public alike. De Volkskrant described the Vivaldi production as something that “cannot be praised highly enough,” while NRC referred to the Bach project as a “full-blooded opera.” With The Opera Circus, OPERA2DAY and the Netherlands Bach Society take a new step in their joint search for innovative, adventurous, and accessible opera.
The Opera Circus is performed and spoken in Italian, with Dutch and English surtitles. Selected performances include audio description, and some theatres offer a low-stimulus environment.
More information: www.opera2day.nl and www.bachvereniging.nl