The Opéra National de Paris has announced a series of events in anticipation of the 2024 Olympic Games. Among the programs and activities aimed at this celebration will be productions of “La Vestale” and David Lang”s “Crowd Out.” With the Spontini Opera, director Lydia Steier explores and interrogates military fanaticism and extreme religious zealotry. Moreover, the titular “vestale” of the {…}
(Photo Credit: Christophe-Abramowitz) The Opéra National de Paris has announced that this February it will inaugurate a new space in honor of composer Kaija Saariaho at the Opéra Bastille. Saariaho’s second opera, “Adriana Mater,” was commissioned by the company and had its world premiere in 2006 in a production By Peter Sellars. Additionally, the Opéra National de Paris showcased the {…}
(Credit: Emilie Brouchon) Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” might be the most passionate love letter ever written to opera. After a career creating operettas and comic works, the composer set his sights on creating an opera, a work that would align with his style and sensibilities, but also one that would transcend them. And from it came a work that is {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced the recipients of the 2023 Mortier Awards, named in honor of Gerard Mortier, the director of the company between 2004-09. Taking home the Mortier Award was Ariane Mnouchkine, celebrated for her life’s work. The French stage director was renowned for her avant-garde theater productions. She was also nominated for an Oscar for Best {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced initiatives to make the company’s initiatives and activities more ecological. “Art is born from constraint; integrating environmental challenges to our activities is not an obstacle to the liberty of creation but inversely, an opportunity to enrich the way we think about projects and the way the Opéra interacts with its public and partners,” {…}
The Opéra National de Paris has announced that for the first time in 30 years, it will feature a “troupe lyrique” made up of seven singers. The artists include soprano Emy Gazeilles, soprano Ilanah Lobel-Torres, mezzo-soprano Marine Chagnon, tenor Nicholas Jones, tenor Maciej Kwasnikowski, baritone Florent Mbia, and bass Alejandro Baliñas Vieites. The group, which will take on over 30 {…}
The Opéra National de Paris, in collaboration with its Academy, has announced the first lyrical youth orchestra. The ensemble will be a joint partnership with 11 conservatories throughout Paris and the Seine-Saint-Denis regions. The conservatories include Conservatoire du 11e Charles Munch, Conservatoire du 12e Paul Dukas, CRR 93 Conservatoire à rayonnement régional in Aubervilliers – La Courneuve, Conservatoire Erik Satie {…}
(Photo Credit: Vincent Lappartient) In “Looking for Bernstein,” Victoria Sitjà kills two birds with one stone. She attempts to fix the problem of arbitrary repertoire choices in academic recitals and deal with the extremely complex legacy of Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein is a sui generis figure in the music world. An innate communicator, Lenny moved between the small screen of the {…}
Who’s afraid of “Roméo et Juliette?” Thomas Jolly, apparently. The director, recognized for his work both on opera and Shakespeare, seems to have missed the emotion and aesthetic power in Gounod’s opera. Thankfully, the musicians have never sounded better. First thing first: My distaste for Jolly’s approach to Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” does not deny that Jolly knows much more {…}
(Credit: Charles Duprat / Opera de Paris) The Opéra National de Paris has announced that to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its “Opéra d’été” series, it will showcase 46 free screenings of past productions throughout nine departments and 17 villages in France. Here is a rundown of the operas that will be streamed this summer. First up will be “Platée” {…}
The Teatro Real de Madrid and the Opéra National de Paris will both be given major awards by Diálogo, Asociación de amistad Hispano-Francesa, an organization aimed at strengthening the Hispanic-French connection throughout Europe. The ceremony is set for June 19 in Madrid where Gregorio Marañon, president of the Teatro Real, and Jean Pierre Clamadieu, president of the Opéra de Paris, {…}
