An arthouse staging for Messiaen's testament of beauty in Geneva

Robin Adams (Saint François)

Claire de Sévigné (Angel)

Robin Adams (Saint François)

Robin Adams (Saint François), Aleš Briscein (Leper) and Claire de Sévigné (Angel)

Saint François d'Assise

By Peter Quantrill, 16 April 2024

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“an intensely human Francis, touched with humour as well as grace”

Reviewed at Grand Théâtre de Genève, Geneva on 11 April 2024

Messiaen, Saint François d'Assise

Grand Théâtre de Genève

Jonathan Nott, Conductor

Adel Abdessemed, Director, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Jean Kalman, Lighting Designer

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Chorus of the Grand Théâtre de Genève

Claire de Sévigné, L'Ange

Robin Adams, Saint François

Omar Mancini, Frère Elie

Jason Bridges, Frère Massée

Aleš Briscein, Le Lépreux

Kartal Karagedik, Frère Léon

Anas Séguin, Frère Rufin

Joé Bertili, Frère Sylvestre

William Meinert, Frère Bernard

Mark Biggins, Choirmaster / chorus director

Castor et Pollux in Geneva: among the stars, with shadows

Laura Servidei, 28th March

Rameau’s Castor et Pollux returns to the stage in a new production that brings together Baroque repertoire and contemporary theatrical aesthetics, conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón and performed by Cappella Mediterranea with an international cast.

***11

Bal Impérial & Boléro: multi-layered work challenges in Geneva

Daniel Pratt, 19th November

The premiere of Bal Impérial by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui challenges and interrogates to great effect in Geneva.

****1

Pelléas et Mélisande as a dark, shining fairy tale in Geneva

Elodie Olson-Coons, 26th October

A maximalist production of Pelléas et Mélisande at Geneva's Grand Théâtre shines, but tries a little too hard.

****1

Penthouse decadence for a shattering new Salome in Geneva

Mark Pullinger, 22nd January

The Grand Théâtre de Genève is certainly not risk-averse and Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó controversially translates the action to a penthouse bar in New York.

*****

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents Idomeneo as a confused ballet in Geneva

Laura Servidei, 2nd March

The Grand Théâtre de Genève presents a new production of Mozart’s opera seria where the focus is all on dancing and rope twirling. Nevertheless, a good cast, led by Federica Lombardi as Elettra, manages to shine through.

**111

Justice in Geneva: musically appealing but missing its mark

David Karlin, 22nd January

Director Milos Rau, composer Hèctor Parra and librettist Fiston Mwanza Mujila put the operatic spotlight on the fight for justice after a mining disaster in the DRC, with mixed results.

**111

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Peter Quantrill

Peter Quantrill is a regular contributor to Gramophone, The Strad and other journals. Recent programme notes have been published by the Salzburg and Edinburgh festivals, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Ballet. He also writes about music and musicians for many record labels including Eloquence, Delphian, Signum, Danacord and Brilliant Classics. Once unplugged from his hi-fi, he can generally be found in a London concert hall or at the cricket, and he tweets (sporadically) @PeterQuantrill.

Shopping trolleys in heaven: an arthouse staging for Messiaen's testament of beauty in Geneva