Silbersee
Silbersee is a Dutch non-profit opera and music theater company founded in 2002 and based in Amsterdam, producing vocal-driven contemporary performances that tour Dutch venues and run community programs for seniors and emerging makers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Silbersee does
Silbersee is a Dutch non-profit opera and music theater production company headquartered in Amsterdam, founded in 2002 by Romain Bischoff and Bärbel Kühn originally as the Nederlands Vocaal Laboratorium (VocaalLab) and rebranded to Silbersee in 2014. The company creates live vocal-driven performances spanning mainstage opera (Amor Matador, All the Lonely People, Via Inferno), intimate music performances (The Architecture of Trees, Atem), performative installations (UMVA!), community programs (Eeuwige Jeugd Studio for seniors aged 65-90+), a development atelier for emerging makers (Waterwende), and occasional short films (MAD). Productions integrate contemporary music, electronics, vocal performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with the voice as the central instrument and recurring themes of inclusion, ecology, and artificial intelligence addressed as content rather than as deployed technology. There is no proprietary software platform; technical components include live electronics, field recordings, sound design, synthesizers, theremin, immersive 3D audio, and instrumentation such as the GEWA Novita 3.0 electric cello.
Silbersee's go-to-market is event-driven: productions are developed through co-production partnerships with Dutch ensembles (Het Muziek, HermesEnsemble) and venues (Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Gaudeamus, Schouwburg Hengelo, De Meervaart, Musis & Stadstheater Arnhem, SPOT Groningen, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, Chassé Theater Breda), then tour across the Netherlands including festivals such as O. Festival, Karavaan Festival, and Cultura Nova. Revenue is generated through a hybrid mix: structural multi-year public subsidies from Fonds Podiumkunsten (national) and Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst (Amsterdam municipal), co-production contributions from partner theaters and ensembles in exchange for performance rights, ticket sales set by individual venues, and tax-deductible donations under cultural ANBI status (since 2011, RSIN 811098722). Customer segments include performing arts audiences, inclusive arts participants (seniors and performers with and without disabilities), theater venues and ensembles acting as co-producers, and cultural funders. The organization is founder-led (Romain Bischoff remains artistic director since 2002), governed by a Raad van Toezicht (Truze Lodder, chair), endorsed by the governance code cultuur and code culturele diversiteit, and has no subsidiaries, no external private equity ownership, and no public listing.
Silbersee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Silbersee
- Legal name
- Silbersee
- Website
- https://silbersee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Silbersee is a Dutch non-profit opera and music theater company founded in 2002 and based in Amsterdam, producing vocal-driven contemporary performances that tour Dutch venues and run community programs for seniors and emerging makers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Silbersee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Silbersee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Subsidies: Silbersee receives structural multi-year subsidies from Fonds Podiumkunsten (national) and Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst (Amsterdam municipal) to support artistic operations and productions.
- Co-production Revenue: Revenue generated through co-production partnerships with theaters and ensembles, where partner organizations contribute to production costs in exchange for performance rights.
- Donations and Support: Silbersee has cultural ANBI status, allowing donors to receive tax benefits for contributions. One-time and multi-year donations are accepted.
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from performances at theaters and festivals across the Netherlands.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Silbersee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Silbersee is a Dutch opera and music theater company that creates and produces live theatrical performances, operas, music theater works, performative installations, and community-based programs. The company develops new works through co-production partnerships with theaters, ensembles, and composers, and tours productions to venues and festivals throughout the Netherlands. In addition to performances, Silbersee runs talent development programs for emerging makers (Waterwende Atelier) and inclusive community programs for seniors (Eeuwige Jeugd Studio).
Product overview
Silbersee is a Dutch opera and music theater company rooted in opera while embracing unconventional talents from diverse genres and disciplines. The company creates theatrical productions and performances with the voice as a central instrument. Its portfolio includes mainstage operas and musical theater productions (All the Lonely People, Via Inferno, Amor Matador), intimate music performances (The Architecture of Trees, Atem), performative installations (UMVA!), community programs (Eeuwige Jeugd Studio for seniors, Waterwende Atelier for emerging makers), and films (MAD). The company emphasizes themes of inclusion, ecology, and artistic experimentation, with a commitment to circularity and sustainability in production processes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Waterwende: Het onderzoeks- en ontwikkelingsatelier van Silbersee voor beginnende makers en collectieven. Voorheen bekend als SPR!TZL Atelier. Makers worden gedurende één à twee seizoenen begeleid bij artistiek onderzoek en ontwikkeling richting een duurzame beroepspraktijk.
- Eeuwige Jeugd Studio
Products and services
- All the Lonely People
- Via Inferno
- Amor Matador
- The Architecture of Trees
- Swan Songs
- Café De Verlossing
- UMVA!
- Atem
- MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)
- Waterwende Atelier
- Eeuwige Jeugd Studio
- Project Weerwoord
Companies that use Silbersee
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Silbersee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Silbersee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Het Muziek (formerly Asko|Schönberg)coreCo-production partnership for Amor Matador, a pioneering opera presented by Silbersee and Het Muziek featuring music by composer Brendan Faegre.
- Martin Fondse MusiccoreCo-production partner for All the Lonely People, with composer Martin Fondse creating the musical composition.
- NTF ProminorCollaboration on panel discussion 'Inclusief maken als artistieke strategie' bringing together Silbersee's Eeuwige Jeugd Studio and dance company Misiconi.
- De MeervaartcorePartnership with De Meervaart in Amsterdam for the Eeuwige Jeugd Studio project, a music theater project for seniors aged 65+.
- MisiconiminorCollaboration on inclusive arts panel discussion, with Misiconi sharing experiences on inclusive dance practice.
- Concertgebouw BruggeminorCo-producer of UMVA! performance exploring a life story from Rwanda.
- HermesEnsembleminorCo-producer of UMVA! performance.
- Het Laatste BedrijfminorCo-producer of UMVA! performance.
- VIA ZUIDcoreCo-production partnership for Swan Songs performance.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Silbersee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LOD Muziektheater: Belgian contemporary opera and music theater company; comparable niche of experimental vocal/opera work for small ensembles and venue partnerships.
- Opera Zuid: Dutch regional touring opera company producing opera across the Netherlands, comparable to Silbersee in scale, regional footprint, and dependence on Dutch public cultural subsidies.
- English Touring Opera: Small-scale UK touring opera company producing chamber and contemporary opera for regional venues; closely mirrors Silbersee's lean-team, touring-circuit, and subsidy-backed operating model.
- Opera North: UK regional opera company producing a mix of repertoire and contemporary commissions with co-production partnerships; comparable operating model, scale, and subsidy-supported structure to Silbersee.
- Muziektheater Transparant: Belgian contemporary music theater company producing innovative vocal and music-theater works; operates in the same niche as Silbersee with similar small-team, co-production-driven model.
- Asko|Schönberg (Het Muziek): Dutch contemporary music ensemble that is a core co-production partner with Silbersee on productions such as Amor Matador. Both organizations focus on contemporary-classical and experimental programming for Dutch audiences.
Broad incumbents
- Nationale Opera & Ballet: The Dutch national opera company, the largest subsidized opera institution in the Netherlands. Overlaps with Silbersee on opera production but operates at significantly larger scale with a permanent venue (Stopera).
- Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA): Major Dutch producing theater and venue partner of Silbersee; operates at much larger scale across drama and music theater, anchoring Amsterdam's mainstream theater landscape.
- Holland Festival: The Netherlands' principal international performing arts festival; presents large-scale opera, music theater, and contemporary work, frequently partnering with or featuring Dutch companies like Silbersee.
Regional players
- Toneelgroep Maastricht / Het Nationale Theater alternative: Dutch subsidized theater producing company with regional reach; comparable in organizational structure and dependence on Dutch public funding, though primarily focused on dramatic rather than operatic work.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Silbersee social profiles
Digital presenceSilbersee compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Silbersee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Silbersee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Silbersee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Silbersee M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Silbersee
What does Silbersee do?
Silbersee is a Dutch opera and music theater company that creates and produces live theatrical performances, operas, music theater works, performative installations, and community-based programs. The company develops new works through co-production partnerships with theaters, ensembles, and composers, and tours productions to venues and festivals throughout the Netherlands. In addition to performances, Silbersee runs talent development programs for emerging makers (Waterwende Atelier) and inclusive community programs for seniors (Eeuwige Jeugd Studio).
Is Silbersee a public or private company?
Silbersee is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Silbersee founded?
Silbersee was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Silbersee based?
Silbersee is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Silbersee make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Subsidies are the primary driver. The others are co-production Revenue, donations and Support and ticket Sales.
Who are Silbersee's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LOD Muziektheater, Opera Zuid, English Touring Opera, Opera North, Muziektheater Transparant and Asko|Schönberg (Het Muziek). Broad incumbents are Nationale Opera & Ballet, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA) and Holland Festival. Toneelgroep Maastricht / Het Nationale Theater alternative is listed as a regional player.
Does Silbersee have an API?
No public API is recorded for Silbersee.