The Fairy Queen : South American tour

The Fairy Queen is back on tour for several special dates in South America! Created in 2023, this highly successful reinterpretation of Purcell's masterpiece celebrates the friendship between the arts, cultures, and generations... for a spectacular show blending music and dance.

In an enchanted forest, reality mingles with dreams, illusion and the supernatural, as young people gather to escape the city and indulge in the magic of nature. Little by little, as the tunes and dances unfold, the boundaries between dancers, singers and musicians become blurred... leading to the creation of an egalitarian and fraternal community, united by the joy of music.

Freely inspired by Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Fairy Queen invites us to plunge into an enchanting and playful universe, which continues to amaze us more than 300 years after its creation. First performed in London in 1692, just three years before Purcell's untimely death at the age of 35, this "masque" (or semi-opera) is the work of a young prodigy. It includes some of the most beautiful arias he ever composed - such as the poignant "O let me weep" and the lively "Thrice happy lovers" - in which his art of counterpoint and sense of theatricality come to the fore.

It is precisely this brilliance, this energy and this youthfulness that this new production invites us to see and hear. Conducted by William Christie and Paul Agnew, alongside choreographer Mourad Merzouki - who makes his operatic directorial debut - this Fairy Queen is an opportunity to discover the latest laureates of Le Jardin des Voix, Les Arts Florissants' academy for young singers. These eight soloists, selected from all over the world and already the focus of attention on the Baroque planet, take turns embodying all the characters in this joyous fable, alongside contemporary dancers from the Compagnie Käfig and musicians from the Les Arts Florissants orchestra.

The result is a global lyrical experience, where the arts and cultures of yesterday and today interact and mingle, to the delight of the senses. A joyful, hopeful show that has delighted audiences ever since its creation!

"A singular and to this day unforgettable two hours of musical theater." Musical America
"This ʻFairy Queenʼ connects the dots between Purcell and street dance." The New York Times

Special announcement

For medical reasons, William Christie is unfortunately unable to conduct the performances of The Fairy Queen scheduled for the South American tour. He is replaced on an exceptional basis by Paul Agnew in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and by Emmanuel Resche-Caserta in Bogota (Colombia) and Montevideo (Uruguay). 

Both conductors, who are close collaborators of William Christie, are also well acquainted with the production: Paul Agnew, co-musical director, conducted the world premiere and numerous performances on tour, while Emmanuel Resche-Caserta has accompanied the project since his debut as first violin and musical assistant. 

William Christie sends his warmest thoughts to the South American audience, whom he was looking forward to seeing again, as well as to the artists involved in this production, which is so dear to his heart. 

Estamos muito felizes com esta maravilhosa turnê junto ao nosso querido público da América do Sul! 

¡Estamos encantados con esta maravillosa gira junto a nuestro querido público de América del Sur!

As exclusive agents for William Christie and Les Arts Florissants in South America, Imusica and Enrique Rubio Lopez are the organizers of the South American tour of The Fairy Queen.