Op zoek naar Maria

Op zoek naar Maria (Looking for Maria) is a talent competition program that aired in Belgium on VTM. It premiered on 25 March 2009. The premise of the series was to find a musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2009 Albert Verlinde and Roel Vente revival of The Sound of Music at the Efteling Theatre. The show is hosted by Koen Wauters and featured Frank Van Laecke, Linda Lepomme, and Peter de Smet as the judges for the show.

Following a public telephone vote, 27-year-old Deborah De Ridder was chosen as Maria with 25-year-old Fleur Brusselmans as the runner up and Liv Van Aelst in third place.

A commercial advertising the show, featuring over 200 dancers in it, seemingly spontaneously, to "Do-Re-Mi" in Antwerpen-Centraal railway station, has received over 20,000,000 hits on YouTube.

A similar format of Op zoek naar Maria has been used as well in The Netherlands in 2021 taking an unknown singer and placing the winner in the lead role of Maria for the 2021 performances in The Netherlands. The show is hosted by Frits Sissing and featured Pia Douwes, Jamai Loman, Carline Brouwer and Richard Groenendijk as the judges for the show. It was the fifth Dutch talent show to be produced by AVRO, 10 years after Op zoek naar Evita, Op zoek naar Joseph, Op zoek naar Mary Poppins, Op zoek naar Zorro and Op zoek naar Annie. In the final, on 4 April, Nandi Van Beurden was announced as the winner of the series. This was followed by Op zoek naar Danny & Sandy in late 2022, which was won by Tristan van der Lingen and Danique Graanoogst.

A similar format has been used as well in the United Kingdom in 2006, with the show How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? taking an unknown singer and placing the winner in the lead role for the 2006 performances in the West End. On 16 September 2006, Connie Fisher was announced the winner of this show.

Finalists
Eleven contestants made it through the audition rounds and performed during the live shows.

* at the start of the contest

Live shows
The live shows saw the finalists eliminated one by one following both individual and group performances. Once eliminated, the leaving contestant ended the program by leading a performance of "Adieu, vaarwel (So Long, Farewell)" from The Sound of Music with the remaining contestants.

Week 1 (April 8, 2009)
Following the first week of the competition, Dorien was the first Maria to be eliminated from the competition. The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * "Don't Stop Me Now" (Queen)

Sing-Off

Week 2 (April 15, 2009)
The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin)

Sing-Off

Week 3 (April 22, 2009)
The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * "My Favorite Things" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * "Get the Party Started" (Pink)

Sing-Off

Week 4 (April 29, 2009)
The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * "The Sound of Music" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * "Dreamgirls" (from the musical Dreamgirls)

Sing-Off

Week 5 (May 6, 2009)
The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * "The Lonely Goatherd" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)


 * Sing-off:
 * Due to Marian van Klaveren's withdrawal, there was no sing-off that week.

Week 6 (May 13, 2009)
The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * "I Have Confidence" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * "Do-Re-Mi" (from the musical The Sound of Music) featuring the children, who will play as the Von Trapp children in the upcoming Flemish revival of The Sound of Music
 * "Cell Block Tango" (from the musical Chicago)


 * Sing-off:
 * Elisabeth Herman and Liv van Aelst were in the sing-off, and performed "De roos" by Ann Christy.
 * Albert Verlinde chose to save Liv and bid farewell to Elisabeth.

Week 7 (May 20, 2009)
In the quarter-final, the seventh Maria to be eliminated was Elke. The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * "Dingen waar ik zoveel van hou" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * "Don't Rain on My Parade" (from the musical Funny Girl)


 * Sing-off:
 * Elke Buyle and Liv van Aelst were in the sing-off, and performed "The Winner Takes It All" from the musical Mamma Mia.
 * Albert Verlinde chose to save Liv and bid farewell to Elke.

Week 8 (May 27, 2009)
In the semi-final, the eighth and final Maria to be eliminated was Katrien. The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * "De boer en de boerin" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (from the musical Hair)


 * Sing-off:
 * Fleur Brusselmans and Katrien Smets were in the sing-off, and performed "Let It Be " by The Beatles.
 * Albert Verlinde chose to save Fleur and bid farewell to Katrien.

Week 9 (June 3, 2009)
The show performances were:


 * Group performances:
 * Finalists and former Marias: "Kunnen we iets beginnen met Maria (How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?)" (from the musical The Sound of Music)
 * Deborah and Fleur: "Ik kan heel de wereld aan (I Have Confidence)" (from the musical The Sound of Music)


 * After being announced as the season winner, Deborah concluded the season with a performance of "De muziek van de hoogste bergen (The Sound of Music)".

Expert panel
An expert panel provided advice to the contestants throughout the series, and provided comments during the live shows. The panel was made up of:
 * Pia Douwes, (head judge and musical theatre actress who is very successful in Europe)
 * Jamai Loman, (actor and singer)
 * Carline Brouwer, (worldwide musical assistant director)
 * Richard Groenendijk, (comedian, actor, presenter and lyricist)

Live shows
The live shows saw the finalists eliminated one by one following both individual and group performances. Once eliminated, the leaving contestant ended the programme by leading a performance of "Bergen of Dalen" (Climb Every Mountain) from The Sound of Music with the remaining contestants, Unlike the Flemish version of Op zoek naar Maria and the British and Canadian versions of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, which their elimination song was "So Long, Farewell" (Tot snel, vaarwel) from The Sound of Music. After being announced as the winner, Nandi concluded the show with a performance of "Iets Waar Ik Zielsveel Van Hou" (My Favorite Things).

Jury's favourite Maria

 * (*) Carline and Pia couldn't make a choice

Performances
Nandi Van Beurden
 * Week 1 - Leven is cabaret (Cabaret)
 * Week 2 - Colors of the Wind
 * Week 3 - It's Oh So Quiet
 * Week 4 - Singin' In The Rain
 * Week 5 - Just Give Me a Reason
 * Week 6 Song 1 - This Is My Life
 * Week 6 Song 2 - Stille liefde
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 1 - All That Matters
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 2 - Ergens in de sterren (Written in the Stars) (Duet with William Spaaij)
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 3 - De muziek van de hoogste bergen (The Sound of Music)
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 4 (Winner's song) - Iets Waar Ik Zielsveel Van Hou (My Favorite Things)

Natascha Molly
 * Week 1 - Something's Got a Hold on Me
 * Week 2 - Make You Feel My Love
 * Week 3 - Don't Rain On My Parade
 * Week 4 - Denk Aan Mij (Think Of Me)
 * Week 5 - River Deep, Mountain High
 * Week 6 Song 1 - Heel alleen (On My Own)
 * Week 6 Song 2 - Get Happy
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 1 - And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 2 - Meer vraag ik niet van jou (All I Ask of You) (Duet with René van Kooten)
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 3 - De muziek van de hoogste bergen (The Sound of Music)

Tessa Sunniva Van Tol
 * Week 1 - Always Remember Us This Way
 * Week 2 - Mamma Mia
 * Week 3 - Huil niet voor mij Argentina (Don't Cry for Me Argentina)
 * Week 4 - All Die Jazz (All That Jazz)
 * Week 5 - I Feel Pretty
 * Week 6 Song 1 - Heel even
 * Week 6 Song 2 - Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 1 - Mijn leven is van mij (I Belong to Me)
 * Week 7 (Final) Song 2 - Beauty and the Beast (Duet with Milan van Waardenburg)

Valerie Curlingford
 * Week 1 - Zeg me dat het niet zo
 * Week 2 - How Will I Know
 * Week 3 - Roar
 * Week 4 - Inspiratie
 * Week 5 - One Day I'll Fly Away
 * Week 6 Song 1 - Tamelijk Voortreffelijk (Practically Perfect)
 * Week 6 Song 2 - Your Song

Jolijn Henneman
 * Week 1 - Arcade
 * Week 2 - Hit the Road Jack
 * Week 3 - Kom terug en dans met mij (I Could Have Danced All Night)
 * Week 4 - Jolene
 * Week 5 - Non, je ne regrette rien
 * Week 6 Song 1 - Walking on Sunshine
 * Week 6 Song 2 - Dit keer (Maybe This Time)

Anouk Van Laake
 * Week 1 - Popular
 * Week 2 - Omarm
 * Week 3 - Let's Hear It for the Boy
 * Week 4 - Somewhere
 * Week 5 - Het dorp

Renée De Gruijl
 * Week 1 - Somebody to Love
 * Week 2 - Hopelessly Devoted To You
 * Week 3 - Geef mij nu je angst
 * Week 4 - Zeur Niet

Sanne Den Besten
 * Week 1 - The Lady Is a Tramp
 * Week 2 - Door De Wind
 * Week 3 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Willemijn Maandag
 * Week 1 - Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing
 * Week 2 - Baby One More Time

Sylvia Boone
 * Week 1 - Duurt Te Lang

Opening songs
 * Week 1 - Medley (7 Rings/I Hope I Get It/Dream Girls/Maria/Ave Maria)
 * Week 2 - You Can't Hurry Love
 * Week 3 - One Night Only
 * Week 4 - This Is Me
 * Week 5 - A Brand New Day
 * Week 6 - Fame
 * Week 7 (Final) - The Greatest Show

Group songs
 * Week 1 - I'm Still Standing
 * Week 2 - The Edge of Glory
 * Week 3 - Shake It Off
 * Week 4 - Moves like Jagger
 * Week 5 - New York, New York
 * Week 6 - There's No Business Like Show Business
 * Week 7 (Final) 1 - I Will Follow Him
 * Week 7 (Final) 2 - Nandi & Natascha - De muziek van de hoogste bergen (The Sound of Music)

Group of 3 people songs (Week 5 only)
 * Nandi, Natascha & Valerie - Love Me Just A Little Bit More
 * Tessa, Jolijn & Anouk - Candyman

Sing-offs The Bottom 2 or 3 Marias voted by the public each week had to sing a contrasting song, then Pia Douwes would choose one of them to carry on in the competition.
 * Week 1 - Sylvia & Willemijn - Hallelujah
 * Week 2 - Willemijn & Anouk - Laat Me
 * Week 3 - Sanne & Tessa - Zonder jou
 * Week 4 - Valerie & Renée - I Know Him So Well
 * Week 5 - Anouk & Valerie - Avond
 * Week 6 - Valerie, Jolijn & Tessa - Nog één kans