Le Roi Arthus de Thomas Hampson

By Gilles Lesur, 18 May 2015

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“Seule la musique était au sommet”

Reviewed at Opéra national de Paris: Opéra Bastille, Paris on 16 May 2015

Chausson, Le Roi Arthus

Opéra national de Paris

Philippe Jordan, Conductor

Graham Vick, Director

Paul Brown, Set Designer

Paul Brown, Costume Designer

Sophie Koch, Genièvre

Roberto Alagna, Lancelot

Cyrille Dubois, Le Laboureur

Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Lyonnel

François Lis, Allan

Thomas Hampson, Arthus

Alexandre Duhamel, Mordred

Peter Sidhom, Merlin

Pomp meets ping-pong: Nixon in China lands again in Paris

David Karlin, 14th March

Excellent vocal acting from Thomas Hampson, Renée Fleming, Xiaomeng Zhang and a magnificent orchestral performance conducted by Kent Nagano can't make Valentina Carrasco's production fully grip.

***11

Thomas Adès’ high-flying Exterminating Angel in Paris

Erwan Gentric, 29th February

The French premiere of the British composer's opera will be the undisputed high point of the Grande Boutique's season: a perfect confluence of music, staging and cast.

*****

Shock and awe in Paris with Bernstein's A Quiet Place

David Karlin, 9th March

In the expert hands of both director Warlikowski and conductor Kent Nagano, the sequel to Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti proves to be even darker and more dramatic.

*****

A long road to nowhere for Igor at the Bastille

Mark Pullinger, 1st December

Barrie Kosky's makes a limited impact in his debut at Opéra de Paris, apart from an hallucinogenic Polovtsian Dances.

***11

Les Indes galantes: with Alarcón, Rameau conquers the Bastille

Philippe Ramin, 28th September

The new production of Les Indes galantes at Opéra Bastille is exceptional, from the vocal cast to the choreography by Bintou Dembélé. But the stand-out performance of the evening comes from conductor Leonardo Garcia Alarcón.

*****

Don Giovanni according to Ivo van Hove: a puritan despite himself?

Pierre Liscia-Beaurenaut, 16th June

Don Giovanni returns to the Palais Garnier. The production by Ivo van Hove lacks energy but is wonderfully served by a cast of great young talents.

***11

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Gilles Lesur

Tombé à l’âge de 10 ans dans la musique grâce à une manécanterie il n’en est plus jamais ressorti. Quelques années après il rejoignait un grand chœur parisien tout juste fondé avant de réussir simultanément le concours de médecine. Depuis il mène de front ces deux passions !

Le Roi Arthus de Thomas Hampson à l'Opéra Bastille