Today : French première of 'The Ghosts of Versailles' by John Corigliano in Versailles

Today, the Royal Opera House in Versailles presents the French première of Ghosts of Versailles, an opera in two acts composed by John Corigliano with a libretto by William M. Hoffman suggested by La Mère coupable by Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais.

(c) J. Henry Fair

The opera was first performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on December 19, 1991. This production was first performed at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown (NY) on July 13, 2019. It is the alternate standard version with 10 principals (instead of 14 at the Met).

Marie-Antoinette’s ghost is devastated by her premature death. Her favourite theatre writer, Beaumarchais, tries to amuse her with a new composition. He creates an opera within an opera, featuring Figaro, Count Almaviva and Susanna, all trying to save the queen from beheading in a musical and spirited production. (reproduced from the Château de Versailles website)

The cast includes soprano Teresa Perrotta (Marie-Antoinette), bass Jonathan Bryan (Beaumarchais), mezzo Kayla Siembieda (Susanna), baritone Ben Schaefer (Figaro), tenor Brian Wallin (Earl Almaviva), soprano Joanna Latini (Rosina), bass baritone Peter Morgan (Louis XVI) and tenor Christian Sanders (Patrick Honoré Bégearss). Joseph Colaneri conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Jay Lesenger directs.

The performance should last about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one interval.

I will attend the first two performances on December 4 and 5.

'A Flowering Tree' by John Adams in Paris

This Wednesday night, I have attended the second performance of John Adams' opera A Flowering Tree at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The hall was half full / half empty. Though there are no real interactions between singing characters, except the duet in Act II, the music is great, with lots of percussion.

The direction by Vishal Bhardwaj was rather poor, with almost no sets, but was saved by the vivid choregraphy by Sedesh Adhana.

The three singers delivered the goods, except maybe Franco Pomponi as the Narrator whose wobble was slightly disappointing.

At the same time, early this May, John Adams' opera Doctor Atomic is having its first performances in France, in Strasbourg.