Doris Lamprecht

Performed at the Théâtre Graslin in Nantes in 2013. Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): Dialogues des Carmélites, opera in 3 acts and 12 scenes from a libretto by Emmet Lavery.

Stage Director Laurent Pelly returns to Lyon for a new production of Rossini’s Le Comte Ory that transforms an exotic hermit from Palestine into an Indian guru, and a young medieval countess into an uptight bourgeoise. Music Director Stefano Montanari leads the Orchestra of the Opéra de Lyon in Rossini's rollicking score, while Dmitry Korchak (Le Comte Ory), Désirée Rancatore (La Comtesse Adèle), and Antoinette Dennefeld (Isolier) invite hilarity at every turn as the bumbling triangle of lovers.

The prologue sets the stage for the action: Thespis, Momus and Thalie announce the subject of the play. It is a comedy mocking the folly of man...and the story of a trap set by Jupiter to cure Juno of her jealousy. The trap? It consists in convincing the water nymph Platée that Jupiter is in love with her. Mercury officially declares Jupiter’s love to Platée. When the god appears before her – first as a donkey, then an owl - the nymph calls on the birds of the marshes, but they scare Jupiter away. Luckily he quickly returns and declares his love for Platée. He even wants to marry her. La Folie comes to sing for the fiancée during an absolutely chaotic scene. However, as the couple prepares for the wedding, Juno arrives. Furious, she puts an end to the farce and ascends to the heavens with Jupiter. Humiliated, Platée understands she has been duped. She swims off into the marshes, as the chorus sings an ironic song in her honour.