L’affaire Fantasio, Chroniques d’un opéra
Entrée libre sur réservation (dans la limite des places disponibles) - au Théâtre Paris-Villette 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris

L’affaire Fantasio, Chronicles of an Opera

Jacques Offenbach

April 29, 2016

Entrée libre sur réservation (dans la limite des places disponibles) - au Théâtre Paris-Villette 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris
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Jacques Offenbach’s little-known masterpiece Fantasio will open the operatic season of the Opéra Comique in early 2017 in coproduction with the Grand Théâtre de Genève, the Théâtre imperial de Compiègne, the Zagreb National Theater and the Opéra Théâtre de Limoges.

This production directed by Thomas Jolly, is an opportunity to develop a new form of opera by granting more time to artistic maturation. As from 2015 a creative laboratory will be set up along with the artists, the theater’s teams and the public! December 2015, for all those who are curious to discover how a group of artists question a work and make it their own.

PRODUCING FANTASIO

The production of Fantasio is emblematic of the relation to opera the Opéra Comique wishes to develop for and with the artists and their audience. The aim is to reinstate the theatrical dynamism of the repertoire, favor its ability to inspire new languages, renew the relationship of everyone with music and the stage, and bring the actors and the audience together through a complete theatrical experience. From 2015 to 2017 with Fantasio the Opéra Comique offers the audience the opportunity to discover the work through the staging of the production and the construction of the characters, the stage direction, the timing of the production and performance as close to the artists and the trades of opera as possible.
While only one Viennese version allowed us to grasp the piece, in 2013 Boosey and Hawkes published a recreation of the Parisian premiere from the gathering of manuscripts by the publisher Christophe Keck. The Opéra Comique can thus revive this little-known masterpiece, a self-portrait of Offenbach with the help of conductor Laurent Campellone, who will conduct the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and stage director Thomas Jolly, who tackles the operatic repertoire for the first time.
European partners rallied to the project: the Grand Théâtre de Genève, the Opéra de Rouen, the National Theater of Croatia and the Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne.

 

The Standpoint of Thomas Jolly, Director of Fantasio

"Constrained until now by its creation process, opera can make time a valuable ally. As in drama, time […] is favorable to trial, the resolving of failures, research and inspiration. Time is also the reference point of the whole creation team and the link between artists, scenic designers, technicians and craftspeople. Dramatic creation over time contributed to the success of Henry VI. For me, this process has become a 'school' and I'm ready to implement it at the Opéra Comique in Fantasio which will be my first operatic production. This approach is also a great gateway for the public. Offering it to attend the 'construction site' of an opera enables it to discover the concrete reality of the trades involved and allows future attendees to view the opera as their own. As for our work, confrontation with the public during the creation process is always a precious indicator of what already works or not. The rendezvous at the successive stages that we put into practice in-house between the artistic team and the theater's teams should be extended to the public: they will be mutually rewarding."

Learn more...

Mise en scène Thomas Jolly • Collaborateur artistique Alexandre Dain  Dramaturge Katja Krüger • Franck Leguérinel,  Marie-Eve Munger, Alix Le Saux, Philippe Estèphe, Enguerrand de Hys / Accompagnés par Martin Surot • En présence des 7 étudiants de l’EHESS qui suivent le projet. 

See all the cast

Friday, April 29, 2016 - 7:00pm

Free entrance upon reservation - Théâtre Paris-Villette 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris

Cast

Thomas Jolly © Olivier MetzgerModds
Direction
Thomas Jolly
Assistant
Alexandre Dain
Biographie Katja Krüger
Dramaturge
Katja Krüger
Franck Leguérinel
Le roi de Bavière
Franck Leguérinel
La princesse Elisbeth
Marie-Eve Munger
Flamel
Alix Le Saux
Philippe Estephe © Romane Bégon
Spark (a student)
Philippe Estèphe
Facio (a student)
Enguerrand de Hys
Martin Surot
Accompanied by
Martin Surot

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