This summer saw Michel van der Aa launch a new artistic foundation dedicated to the development of innovative music theatre works with an international profile.
With Van der Aa as its Artistic Director, the doubleA Foundation aims to support the production and touring of new and existing works that stretch the boundaries of music theatre, opera, concerts, audiovisual exhibitions, digital art, multimedia and film.
At the forefront of the Foundation’s work is the doubleA Lab, which Van der Aa describes as ‘a unique laboratory for twenty-first-century music theatre’. Designed to develop and test new artistic technologies, the Lab will work with and develop new generations of artistic and technical partners, including dramatists, designers, stage managers, directors and VR specialists. With the help of Van der Aa’s diverse international network, young artists will be brought into contact with major international producers, opera houses and festivals to create new and significant work.
The Foundation launches with four new projects already in production and planned for presentation between 2019 and 2021. These are the virtual reality installation Eight – a collaboration with the singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke – and a forthcoming film opera; as well as a large-scale work of music theatre and a visual art collaboration.
The doubleA Lab is supported by the Gieskes-Strijbis Fonds, and the Foundation itself works in close collaboration with the international classical music agency Intermusica, the production company ‘N More, and the publishers Boosey & Hawkes. Its business director is Rosita Wouda. More information about the Foundation and Lab may be found at doubleA.net.