O. Festival Rotterdam – dates, event info, line-up

HAPPENING 23 May–1 June 2025 | Rotterdam’s O. Festival brings a citywide celebration of opera, music, and theatre. Visitors can discover performances at diverse locations across the city.

_{Photo credit: Bart Grietens}

O. Festival marks 20th anniversary with citywide performances

O. Festival for Opera, Music, Theatre, will celebrate its 20th anniversary from Friday 23 May to Sunday 1 June 2025 across various locations in Rotterdam. The festival, previously known as Operadagen Rotterdam, has announced a diverse programme featuring more than 100 performances and 50 different productions.

This year's edition puts a strong focus on choral music, featuring both professional and amateur choirs. The festival will offer audiences a glimpse behind the scenes with 'Works in Progress' performances and workshops through O. Lab, encouraging direct interaction between artists and visitors.

According to artistic director Guy Coolen, a major theme for 2025 is the power of collective singing. “At O., we bring all kinds of voices together – from professional to amateur, young to old, and from classical to contemporary – because singing together connects.”

Opening night and highlighted performances

The festival will open with Café de Verlossing (Café of Redemption), a folk opera by composer Akim Moïseenkov. This imaginative production involves senior citizens from Schiedam, alongside professional artists such as Fanny Alofs, Florian Slangen, and percussionist Baue Kunstman. The performance will continue until 28 May.

Among the festival highlights are:

• Anima Obscura, a multidisciplinary production exploring the human quest for immortality. It will feature Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with Laurens Symfonisch, Luxor Theatre, and O. Festival.

• Now We Are Earth, a project by Nicole Beutler Projects, delving into the relationship between humans, animals, plants, fungi, and technology.

• 24 Italian Songs & Arias, presented at Kantine Walhalla by Brian Lobel and soprano Gweneth-Ann Rand, focusing on personal and professional rejection.

• Hannibal, hosted at TR25 Schouwburg, a dynamic blend of opera, slam poetry, and house music.

• Dante Songbook by Sterre Konijn and Silbersee, an introspective musical journey inspired by Dante’s world.

Other premieres include LU OpeRAVE by Fattoria Vittadini, The Phonograph Changed Me by Rotterdam Arab Film Festival and Marmoucha Orchestra, and Vier Muren by Marios Bellas.

DEEP END. O. Festival 2024. Photo credit: Salih Kilic

Opportunities to experience creative development

A new feature of the 2025 festival is 'Works in Progress', offering visitors access to rehearsal processes of productions that will premiere in future editions. Meanwhile, O. Lab will involve audiences in the research and creative development phases of new works.

Ticket information

Day tickets and passe-partouts are available via the festival's official website (o-festival.nl). Individual performance tickets went on sale at the beginning of April.

About O. Festival

O. Festival has evolved over the past 20 years from Operadagen Rotterdam into an internationally recognised platform for innovation in opera and music theatre. Known for its adventurous programming and commitment to accessibility, O. Festival continues to bridge genres and generations within the dynamic cultural landscape of Rotterdam.

Festival locations and directions

Performances will be held across the city, including locations such as the Havenkerk in Schiedam, TR25 Schouwburg, BRUTUS, and Kantine Walhalla in Katendrecht. These locations are easily accessible by public transport, with tram, metro, and bus stops nearby. Visitors can explore different neighbourhoods, from the bustling city centre to the more industrial and historic districts.