Calendar - The Fairy Queen

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The Fairy Queen
Henry Purcell

Ensemble

Orchestre des Arts Florissants

Dancers of Compagnie Käfig: Samuel Florimond, Anahi Passi, Alary Ravin, Timothée Zig, and alternating Baptiste Coppin and Daniel Saad / Ian Debono* and Joey Gertin* (* student dancers from the Juilliard School in New York)

Program

Henry PURCELL - The Fairy Queen

"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

A new production of Purcell's masterpiece, this Fairy Queen brings together arts, cultures and generations... for a unique experience!

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!

France Musique FM CMJN F Recorded and broadcast France Musique (on air on January 27, 2024 at 8pm)