Jun 1, 2008

Athénée's operas for 08-09




The Eden-Théâtre, build in the 1880s rue Boudreau in Paris after an Hindu temple, underwent many changes before becoming in 1896, l'Athénée Théâtre. The theater's name is now inseparable with its greatest director of all, legendary actor Louis Jouvet (who died in his office from a heart attack on August 16, 1951).
After Jouvet's death, the theater never really recovered until owner Pierre Bergé sold it to the state in 1982 for "un franc symbolique". It became a place of choice for XXth century theater.

In 1999, the orchestra pitt was rediscovered, allowing the seasons to include staged operas.




The 2008-09 season has been announced this week (though not yet available on the website), and will include La Cantatrice chauve (opera composed by Jean-Philippe Calvin based on Ionesco's play), L’Opéra de quatre notes from minimalist composer Tom Johnson, Mauricio Kagel's Le Tribun/Finale, Delibes's La Cour du roi Pétaud and Vaughan Williams's Riders To The Sea; two revivals from la Maison de la culture de Bourges will be scheduled : Philip Glass's Les Enfants terribles, and Mozart's Cosi fan tutte (version with wind instruments only).


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