The history of our continent is largely the outcome of the overwhelming need for human beings to travel and the perpetual movement it generates. As vessels of this human movement, train stations are home to the many stories brought about by the flows of travellers that pass through them and the small and large events that take place there. Lost & Found aims to establish a dialogue between the train stations and the variety of local stories that live there — from intimately personal accounts to public matters. Mini operas developed over the course of several days will transform these stories into audio, visual and kinetic experiences for passers-by and travellers.

For one week, the audience will be able to not only witness the opera's creation, but also to be able to participate in it. A local team of artists (librettists, composers, dramaturges) will collect local stories from passers-by and translate them into operas. The artists will work together in a creative space — a transparent cube installed inside the train station — from which they will be able to observe what is happening outside and through which passers-by will be able to witness the creative process in real-time. Each day a performance, based on the interactions of that day, will be put on. The final composition will bring together these daily operas and take the form of an extended performance through which musicians and singers will share the result of this experience.

Practical information
15 05 2022 – 17:00
16 05 2022 – 17:00
17 05 2022 – 17:00
18 05 2022 – 17:00
19 05 2022 – 17:00
20 05 2022 – 20:00
Rotterdam Central station

Share your story here and contribute to an opera!

The musical director of this project is Benjamin Haemhouts, artistic director of the Belgian chamber orchestra Casco Phil. The stage crew is led by the international theatre production company Muziektheater Transparant. In co-production with Perpodium. Among the selected artists are Annelies Van Parys (composer), Gaea Schoeters (librettist) and Fanny Gilbert-Collet (director).

Credits
Production: Muziektheater Transparant, Casco Phil and EUROPALIA
In coproduction with: Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (Antwerp and Brussels), IOA International Opera Academy (Antwerp and Brussels), Royal Opera House London, O.Festival for Opera. Music. Theatre Rotterdam
With the support of: Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government and SNCB (Antwerp
and Brussels)