Illustration Armide - Julia Lamoureux

© Julia Lamoureux

Armide

Christoph Willibald Gluck

en

When Syria was a land of crusades and myths, the Queen Armide did not only abduct christian knights but captivated them by her charms. As Renaud, the bravest one, undertakes the liberation of his comrades, the unconquerable witch unexpectedly falls in love with him. This unholy passion proves to be devastating…

Cast

Musical direction Christophe Rousset • Stage direction Lilo Baur • With Véronique Gens, Ian Bostridge, Edwin Crossley-Mercer, Anaïk Morel, Philippe Estèphe, Enguerrand de Hys, Florie Valiquette, Apolline Rai-Westphal • Choir Les éléments • Orchestra Les Talens lyriques

See all the cast

Inspired by Tasso, Lully’s Armide had been illustrating the climax of French opera since 1686. Writing a new score from Quinet’s libretto, 91 years later, was a challenge. But as he settled in Paris, Gluck pushed his conception of scenic truth, musical expression and tragedy effectiveness forward thanks to Queen Marie-Antoinette, who witnessed the triumph of her protégé.

Lilo Baur, stage director, and Christophe Rousset, musical director, enliven the battles, the enchantments and giddy passions overwhelming one of the greatest heroines of the repertoire, embodied by Véronique Gens, for her first leading role at the Opéra Comique.

Heroic drama in five acts. Libretto by Philippe Quinault. Created at the Académie royale de musique (Opéra) in 1777

Before the show

Keys to the show

With Agnès Terrier | Salle Bizet
Free 45 min. before the performance

Sing some tunes

Foyer Favart
Free 45 min. before the performance

Accessibility

Relax sessions
One Relax session is available on 13 November 2022
RELAX sessions offer a inclusive caring environment for people whose disability (autism, multiple disabilities, mental or psychic disability, Alzheimer…) may give rise to atypical and unpredictable behaviour during the show.

More info on this page

Cast

Musical direction
Christophe Rousset
Stage direction
Lilo Baur
Decors
Bruno de Lavenère
Costumes
Alain Blanchot
Lights
Laurent Castaingt
Staging assistant
Céline Gaudier
Vocal coach
Brigitte Clair
Armide
Véronique Gens
Renaud
Ian Bostridge
Hidraot
Edwin Crossley-Mercer
Read more
La Haine
Anaïk Morel
Aronte / Ubalde
Philippe Estèphe
Lire plus
Artémidore / Le Chevalier danois
Enguerrand de Hys
Sidonie, Mélisse, Bergère
Florie Valiquette
Lire plus
Phénice, Lucinde, Plaisir, Naïade
Apolline Raï-Westphal

Dancers

Fabien Almakiewicz, Nicolas Diguet et Mai Ishiwata

Choir
Les éléments
Lire plus
Orchestra
Les Talens Lyriques

Production
Opéra Comique

With the support of

Aline Foriel-Destezet, Major Patron of the Opéra Comique