
28 Feb – 1 Mar – 2 Mar Geweld & Vibrato
- By:
- Xander van Vledder, HIIIT & Huba de Graaff
- When:
- Friday 28 February at 20:15, Saturday 1 March at 20:15 and Sunday 2 March at 15:00
- Language:
- Dutch
Geweld en Vibrato is an unconventional opera about colonialism, the extreme violence during the ‘police actions’ in Indonesia, and transgressive vibrato. The production features one singing actor, one soprano, three string players, three percussionists, live electronics, and radio and insect sounds.
Composer Huba de Graaff discovered letters and photos in her parents’ estate from her maternal uncle, who fought in Indonesia for the Dutch army. In stark contrast, she found documents belonging to her Indo-grandfather on her father’s side, who turned out to have been friends with members of the Indonesian anti-colonial resistance. De Graaff is a living product of two families embodying both sides of this colonial war.
Inspired by these discoveries, De Graaff has created an unorthodox opera that turns the genre inside out, using original radio speeches as a guide for the historical narrative. The phenomenon of ‘vibrato’ serves as a metaphor for the violence of Western expansionism—an overwhelming and forced opera vibrato.
“ Scraping strings and pounding percussionists in an impressive indictment of colonialism. ” ”
Context Program
On Sunday, March 2, Wereldmuseum Amsterdam is organizing special guided tours for visitors of Geweld & Vibrato through the exhibition “Our Colonial Legacy.” Before the performance, there will also be a conversation with the creators of the opera and the exhibition curator.
Guided tour Our Colonial legacy
Sunday, March 2 at 12:00 PM and 1:15 PM
Accompanied by a museum docent, explore the exhibition Our Colonial Legacy. Colonialism is not just a thing of the past—it continues to affect our lives today. How does history shape our present? Where does racism originate?
In this exhibition, a museum docent will guide you through the Dutch colonial history and presence in Indonesia, Suriname, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and many other countries.
- Time: 12:00 PM and 1:15 PM
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Price: Free (incl. museum entrance) upon presentation of a valid event ticket
- Reservation required
Conversation with the Exhibition Curator – Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
Sunday, March 2 at 1:30 PM
Before the performance, composer Huba de Graaff and program curator Eva Verboon will engage in a discussion with Rik Herder, exhibition curator at Wereldmuseum Amsterdam. The conversation will explore how creators address lingering power imbalances from the colonial past and the perspectives they bring to their work.
- Time: 1:30 PM
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Price: Free (incl. museum entrance) upon presentation of a valid event ticket
- Reservation required
Discount on Museum Admission
From March 4 to March 31, 2025, visitors can receive 50% off admission to Wereldmuseum Amsterdam and its exhibitions by presenting their KIT Live ticket for Geweld & Vibrato at the museum’s ticket counter. Simply bring your performance ticket and receive a 50% discount on museum entry.