Molière and his Music
Molière - Lully - Charpentier
Ensemble
Vocal and instrumental ensemble of Les Arts Florissants
Musical direction
Choreography
Hubert HAZEBROUCQ - Compagnie Les Corps Eloquents
Dramaturgie
Semi-staging
Actor
Actor
Luca BESSE - (en alternance)
Cast
Emmanuelle DE NEGRI, dessus
Claire DEBONO, dessus
Cyril AUVITY, haute-contre
Marc MAUILLON, basse-taille
Igor BOUIN, basse-taille - (en alternance)
Cyril COSTANZO, bass
Program
Jean-Baptiste LULLY - Georges Dandin
Marc-Antoine CHARPENTIER - Le Malade imaginaire
Jean-Baptiste LULLY - La pastorale comique, LWV 33
Jean-Baptiste LULLY - Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Jean-Baptiste LULLY - Le Mariage Forcé
Marc-Antoine CHARPENTIER - Intermèdes nouveaux du Mariage forcé, H.494
Jean-Baptiste LULLY - Monsieur de Pourceaugnac
Jean-Baptiste LULLY - Les Amants magnifiques, LWV 42
By coincidence, or as a new farce in a destiny devoted entirely to the theater, 2022 and 2023 mark the quadricentennial of Molière's birth and the 350th anniversary of his death. As passionate defenders of the culture of the Grand Siècle, Les Arts Florissants could not fail to contribute to the numerous commemorations that flourish throughout these two years around the great figure of French theater.
While it is pointless to repeat how much Molière's brilliant genius is reaffirmed with each new performance and with all audiences, the role of music in his work is often underestimated or even forgotten. Since the 1980s, Les Arts Florissants has been keen to present several of his plays in highly acclaimed productions - one can remember a truculent Malade imaginaire, Le Sicilien and L'Amour médecin at the Comédie-Française, both of which have been recorded on DVD, and more recently a brilliant Monsieur de Pourceaugnac. This time, the homage takes the form of a modern show, both in spirit and in form: directed by William Christie, this pasticcio of great pages from Molière's comedies and ballads combines the talents of choreographer Hubert Hazebroucq and dramaturge Vincent Boussard, whose ensemble had already presented a moving Dido in 2000. Following the thread of a plot written especially for this show, a host of soloists singers (joined by four dancers from the Compagnie Les Corps Éloquents) alternate between sung arias and purely theatrical performances, allowing us to rediscover the jubilant world of the "comédies-ballets".
A colorful show where we can see how music is the best ally of the theater: Molière is never as enjoyable as when Lully and Charpentier take their rightful place at his side.
«What a curious phenomenon - that it was not until the end of the 20th century that the French, so keen on their literary heritage, finally rediscovered a musical heritage so closely associated with one of their greatest writers: Molière! (...) In a way, we have tried with Les Arts Florissants to right these wrongs, (...) by giving back their music to Molière’s plays.»
William Christie
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Previous dates
Paris / France
Philharmonie de Paris
- Friday, November 4 2022, 8pm
Athènes / Grèce
Megaron- Alexandra Triadi Hall
- Sunday, October 2 2022, 7pm
Luxembourg / Luxembourg
Philharmonie
- Friday, September 30 2022, 8pm
Thiré / France
Miroir d'eau des Jardins de William Christie
- Saturday, August 27 2022, 8pm, Festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie
- Friday, August 26 2022, 8pm, Festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie
Versailles / France
Opéra Royal
- Sunday, June 26 2022, 3pm
- Saturday, June 25 2022, 7pm