Thursday 17, July - 20h - Opéra Comédie

King Arthur
Henry Purcell

Semi opera in five acts (1691)
libretto by John Dryden

Staged version
Corinne et Gilles Benizio, alias Shirley & Dino

Chantal Santon soprano
Ana Maria Labin soprano
Mathias Vidal haute-contre
Marc Mauillon ténor
JoÃo Fernandes basse

LE CONCERT SPIRITUEL
CHÅ’UR DU CONCERT SPIRITUEL

Hervé Niquet, conductor

Coproduction Opéra National de Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon

‘When Purcell conceived King Arthur three centuries ago, the work integrated a play, which was what provided the action, with the choruses and airs contributing so many punctuations. The score that has come down to us, lasting some two hours, gives an idea of the size of the complete work! Thus, it would be quite difficult to stage King Arthur in its original form, but is that reason to deprive ourselves of Purcell’s music? I imagined reinventing a story that functions with just the musical fragments of King Arthur. It is no longer a confrontation between Arthur the Breton and Osmond the Saxon for winning the hand of Emmeline but episodes from the reign of Arthur, between battles and castles. The characters have therefore changed names, the situations have been transposed, and this ‘patched-up’ King Arthur revolves round the bass who sings the title role.’

Corinne and Gilles Benizio, alias Shirley and Dino
Virtuosos of the theatre and geniuses of the improbable, tender poets and impenitent jokers. For twenty years I have dreamt of blending rigour and fantasy, poetry and forthrightness for staging King Arthur.

I’m happy, believe me!
Hang on to your hats!!!

Hervé Niquet

Broadcast France Musique - 22/07/08 - 8pm


Festival Lectures (15-07-08) - King Arthur - Hervé Niquet
11am - Salle Einstein/ Le Corum - Free Entrance