“The shows at Opéra de Monte-Carlo are certainly available in the Principality but also abroad (…) testifying the vitality of our event programming”, highlights H.R.H. Princess of Hanover in the official presentation booklet. These inspiring words stress a year-round commitment to find the best-quality productions that will be performed in major international capitals of culture like Madrid, Copenhagen, Oman, San Francisco, Bologna and Hong Kong.
Opéra de Monte-Carlo, under the high patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco is meeting the expectations of its affectionate public offering them a various and intriguing programme for the Season 2019-2020, presented on Thursday the 25th April 2019 by Jean-Louis Grinda, director of the Monegasque Opéra. Introduced by the iconic scenes of Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi, flagship of the previous season together with the recent successful edition of “Continua a farci sognare!” (Keep on making us dream!), the audience was surrounded by the wonderful atmosphere of this architectural jewel designed by Charles Garnier, preciously kept by the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) within the Casino de Monte-Carlo.
It is worth reminding us that this performance was presented for the first time at San Carlo Theatre in Naples by Cecilia Bartoli accompanied by the ‘Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco’ in March 2019.
The ‘Concert des Jeunes Chanteurs Russes’ (Concert of Russian Young Singers) from the Académie de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo will open the opera agenda (30th October 2019). With the support of the Fondation pour le Initiatives Socio-Culturelles – FSCI (Foundation for socio-cultural initiatives) chaired by Svetlana Medvedeva, new-comer talents will interpret well-known arias from Italian and French operas during the final show, dueting with eminent figures like Barbara Frittoli and Ludovic Tézier. Extracts from classical ballets will embellish the scenery.
An original ‘ciné-concert’ will pay tribute to Fritz Lang’s movie production ‘Die Nibelungen’ devoted to the saga of the Nibelung enriched by a live piano performance conceived on the spot by Jean-François Zygel (3rd November 2019). ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ by Gaetano Donizetti under the interpretation of Choeur de l’Opéra and Orchestre Philarmonique de Monte-Carlo, will celebrate with beautiful singing the Monegasque National Day (17th, 19th and 22nd November 2019, at Grimaldi Forum).
In the occasion of the 150th Anniversary from the French music composer Hector Berlioz’s death, the Principality will host the integral version of his ‘La Damnation de Faust’ (The Damnation of Faust), under the musical direction of Kazuki Yamada and choir direction of Stefano Visconti (15th and 17th December 2019, at Rainier III Auditorium).
The new year will start with a new interpretation of Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece, ‘La Bohème’ by Choeur de l’Opéra and Orchestre Philarmonique de Monte-Carlo in cooperation with The Royal Opera of Muscat (24th, 26th, 29th and 31st January 2020). Harmonious melodies and refined setting are ensured. The modern American opera ‘Street Scene’ set in an early-twentieth-century New York by Kurt Weill will be staged, for the first time in the Principality, in cooperation with Teatro Real of Madrid and the Opera of Köln (21st, 23rd, 25th February 2020).
Half way between opera and musical, this ‘pièce’ has the right ingredients to attract the attention. In the same wake of the success, the talented American soprano, Patricia Racette, will offer her tribute to Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, George Gershwin and Edith Piaf in her ‘Récital, Patricia Racette, Diva on Detour’ (27th February 2020). All amateurs of pure ‘bel canto’ will be amazed by Vincenzo Bellini’s ‘Il Pirata’ under the musical direction of Giacomo Sagripanti and choir direction of Stefano Visconti (5th and 8th March 2020 at Rainier III Auditorium). A rarely performed Italian romantic opera based on musical beauty and powerful emotions.
The multi-award-winning Cecilia Bartoli in cooperation with Opéra de Monte-Carlo and Opera of Zurich will present a stunning opera by Gioacchino Rossini, ‘Le Compte Orly’ (The Count Orly), strongly linked to ‘Il Viaggio a Reims’, where the mezzo soprano will be showing her vocal ductility (22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th March 2020).
A great opportunity to meet this gifted artist so dear to the Principality, being the creator of the orchestra ‘Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco’ that has been delighting the international public since its foundation in 2016, as testified by their participation to the renowned Salzburg Festival, in June 2019. A Monegasque crown jewel as well as the ‘Formation Internationale Professionnelle des Artistes de Choeur’ – FIPAC (Professional International Training for Choir Artists), the sole European education institution in this field. Last but not least, a classical masterpiece by Giuseppe Verdi will make the proper closing of the Season.
‘La Traviata’, one of the most poignant operas ever created, will be interpreted by Choeur de l’Opéra and Orchestre Philarmonique de Monte-Carlo, in cooperation with Saint-Etienne Opera Theatre, under the musical direction of Giuseppe Finzi and the choir direction of Stefano Visconti, to please the qualified audience (21st, 24th, 26th, 28th April 2020).
“In this new Opera Season, we are going further new technologies: apart from being on Facebook and Instagram with many followers, we decided to produce a new targeted Tv channel that will be filming three planned operas making them freely available in streaming on Internet” pointed out Mr Grinda to conclude the preview conference, highlighting the precious cooperation and support by the Gouvernement Princier and the Sovereign Prince.
The ‘digital and social’ way to disseminate worldwide the high-quality opera and musical outcome ‘Made in Monaco’ represents the future. Of course, we are all invited to come personally to enjoy operas at the amazing Salle Garnier.
To know more about Season 2019-2020 at Opéra de Monte-Carlo please visit: www.opera.mc
