Main photo © Junge Oper Stuttgart
Throughout 2018, a variety of events will celebrate our common heritage as part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. A theme reflected in the European Opera Days (4-13 May), a yearly celebration of the most European of art forms, which will take place under the slogan “Where the Past Meets the Future”.
As ever, RESEO members have a wide range of activities up their sleeves. Take a look at what is happening in your city:
Belgium
La Monnaie de Munt
Once a year, Europe goes all operatic…
SATURDAY MAY 6TH
IN THE COMPANY OF AIDA AND PINOCCHIO…
La Monnaie Workshops (23 rue Léopold, 1000 Brussels)
Starting at 13:00 A visit to La Monnaie’s ongoing renovation works: the tunnel that connects La Monnaie’s Workshops to the opera house, a quiz and other surprises.
13:30, 14:30 & 15:30 Super Saturday in the frame of Aida. Every workshop takes about 45 minutes and is in Dutch or French.
14:30 Camille De Rijck interviews the composer Philippe Boesmans about Pinocchio. In French, with simultaneous translation to Dutch.
15:30 Disney’s Pinocchio (1940) on screen.
Palais de la Monnaie (86C avenue du Port, 1000 Brussels)
16:30–18:00 Introduction to Aida (in Dutch and French) and a meeting with La Monnaie collaborators and their opera profession.
18:00 A visit to the backstage area of Aida.
19:00–20:30 An Aida-rehearsal with the orchestra, chorus and soloists.
Sunday May 7
PICKNICK OF THE PARSIFOOLS AND MM FRIENDS
Brussels Park
Starting at 13:00 Yearly picknick of the Parsifools (background actors in Castelluci’s Parsifal) and MM Friends, with musical intermezzo’s throughout the afternoon.
More info here
Opéra Royal de Wallonie – Liège
Saturday, May 12 at 11AM and 2PM
Find out all there is to know about opera!
What do the singers’ dressing rooms look like? What are some opera superstitions? How many people work on a production? What happens during a rehearsal? Come and spend two and a half discovering every inch of the house and satisfying your curiosity. This guided tour will show you every nook and cranny of the opera accompanied by an artist and enable you to discover some pictures of next season’s productions.
Free entry – Only upon reservation
From 14 years
Information and bookings
+32 (0)4 221 47 22
info@operaliege.be
www.operaliege.be
More info here
Bulgaria
Operosa
This year Operosa will celebrate the European Opera Days through “Young@Opera”, a two-year Creative Europe project implemented in Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro.
From 9th – 13th of May, the Young@Opera project will present Giovanni Paisiello’s La Serva Padrona in Herceg Novi, Kotor and Podgorica (Montenegro). The final performance in Podgorica is free of charge.
Denmark
Den Jyske Opera
Public Choir
On the occasion of the European Opera Days 2018, Den Jyske Opera invites you to participate in a shared singing experience.
Date : May 5
Registration: nan (at) jyske-opera.dk
Den Jyske Opera Production Hall, Store Sal,
Frichsparken 38 F, 8230 Åbyhøj
Time:
2PM to 3.30PM
Doors open at 1.30PM
More info here
France
Lille
Happy Day
Viva Nabucco !
Discover the Opéra de Lille through one of opera’s greatest works! Just a few days from the premiere, rehearsals for Verdi’s Nabucco are picking up speed. Discover how great performance is prepared and tour the building at the same time.
Musicians and dancers await you, alongside the director Marie-Eve Signeyrole and the set designer Fabiern Teigné, who will reveal a few secrets about stage direction. And while you are about it, why not launch into the famous hymn to freedom and historical chorus “Va, pensiero”!
Opéra de Lille
2 rue des Bons Enfants – 59001 Lille
More info here
Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie
Saturday, May 5 at 2pm – Opéra Berlioz / Le Corum
Open piano rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi’s Nabucco
Directed by: John Fulljames
Sets: Dick Bird
Soloists: Giovanni Meoni, Nabucco – Davide Giusti, Ismael – Jennifer Check, Abigaille Choir director: Noëlle Geny
Sunday, May 6 – Foyer Opéra Comédie
Open rehearsal of Hip Hop Around Britten (Performance with Junior Opera)
Hip hop demonstrations and workshops
Opéra national de Montpellier Occitanie
Place de la Comédie
34000 Montpellier
France
More info here
Opéra de Rouen Normandie
Sunday, May 13, 2PM
As part of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Marcel Duchamp, the Université de Rouen Normandie is organising a series of events entitled “Duchamp in his city”. This project was initiated and supported by the Flaubert University Foundation. L’Opéra de Rouen Normandie is joining the project by opening its doors to the public with musical happenings, conferences and exhibitions in a journey through theThéâtre des Arts, dedicated to the famous Rouen artist.
Free admission, no booking necessary
More info here
Opéra national de Paris
Palais Garnier
Saturday, May 5
From 10AM to 15PM: Free admission * to the Palais Garnier
Entrance through the Façade
11.30AM to 1PM, Grande salle:
Public Ballet de Paris dance class
3.30PM – 4.30PM
“Barre publique” with the École de danse for children aged 8 to 14
Booking mandatory the same day at the entrance of the theatre within the limits of available places
Sunday, May 6
From 10AM to 3PM: Free admission * to the Palais Garnier
Entrance through the ticket office on rue Scribe
* Free admission within the limits of the regulations for tours of buildings
Opéra de Paris (Garnier)
8 rue Scribe 75009 Paris
France
More info here
Théâtre du Capitole
Friday, May 4
11AM to 5PM
Costumes exhibition for an exceptional auction on Saturday, May 5 (foyers)
Meeting with the public and information about the 2018/2019 season
Sale of DVDs of the operas and ballets of the Théâtre du Capitole
Saturday, May 5
10AM to 9PM
From 10AM: exceptional costume auction in the foyers of the theatre with 300 sets of opera and operetta costumes
With Karine Castang, Sales Commissioner, Toulouse Estate
Live sales on www.drouot.com
5 PM – Participatory workshop: “Family choir singing”
with David Godfroid, Choeur du Capitole artist
Choeur du Capitole rehearsal studio, rue Roquelaine, Toulouse
Bookings: www.theatreducapitole.fr
More information: 05 61 22 31 32
12.15-1.30PM and 7.30-9PM: Visits of the performance hall
Meeting with the public and information about the 2018/2019 season
Sale of DVDs of the operas and ballets of the Théâtre du Capitole
Sunday, May 6
11AM to 8PM
2PM and 6PM – Choeur du Capitole recitals
Opera choirs, under the direction of Alfonso Caiani
3.30PM – « The History of the Capitole » with Jean-Jacques Groleau, playwright (Grand Foyer)
4.30PM – Meeting with Christophe Ghristi, Artistic Director (Grand Foyer)
11AM to 8PM – Visits of the performance hall
11AM to 2PM – Video extracts of operas and ballets (Grand Foyer), meeting with the public, information about the 2018/2019 season, sale of DVDs of the operas and ballets of the Théâtre du Capitole
Free admission within the limits of available space
Information: (+33) (0)5 61 63 13 13
More info here
Opéra national de Bordeaux
Saturday, May 5
11.30 : Presentation of the 2018/2019 season – Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux
1PM : Opening of the 2018/2019 subscription campaign
Sunday, 6 May
11AM – 7PM
Outdoors
“Barre publique” with the dancers of the Opera Ballet, Cours du Chapeau Rouge, under the direction of Eric Quilleré, Director of the Dance (duration: 45 minutes)
Performance by the dancers and young members of Anthony Egéa’s Compagnie Révolution based on extracts of the ballet Les Forains (duration: 20 minutes)
Grand-Théâtre
Class with the Ballet (duration 45 minutes)
Public commented rehearsal with the Ballet and the Compagnie Révolution (1 hour)
In the foyers
Speed dating with the dancers of the Opera Ballet
Costume trunk
Lift workshop with the dancers of the ballet and hip hop workshop with the Compagnie Revolution
Presentation of the programme of the Young Choreographers Competition 2018
Presentation of the Guide du Grand-Théâtre (Published by Le Festin)
In partnership with Anthony Egea and his Compagnie Rêvolution and France Bleue Gironde
Practical information
All activities at the Grand-Théâtre on Sunday 6 May are free of charge. Certain are free access, and others are to be booked in advance from April 20.
More info here
Opéra de Massy
Saturday, May 5
Open Day
Programme
Highlights
4PM : “Boléro en jean baskets”, by the Compagnie Julien Lestel on the esplanade
5PM : Concert by les Paladins, baroque ensemble
6PM : Performance by the Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine: Britten’s The Little Sweep
Other activities
10 and 11AM: Guided tours of the Opera
10.30AM: Opera education workshop with the Tréteaux Amateurs de Massy
11AM: Recital by the students of the operatic singing class of the Conservatoire de Massy
11AM: Initiation to berber dance with the Association Franco-Berbère de Massy
11.30AM – 1PM: Class with the Compagnie Julien Lestel, in residence at the Opera
2PM: Piano open stage, with the students of the class of Florence Ribaud-Jacquin of the Conservatoire de Massy
2-5PM: Children’s plantation workshop with the Atelier plantations pour enfants par le lycée horticole de Marcoussis
2.30PM, 3.30PM, 4.30PM: Theatrical improvisations on the forecourt, by the Tréteaux Amateurs de Massy
3PM: Flashmob + open dance stage with various dance groups on the square
All day: Expositions in the hall (“The origins of composition” by the Association Décider of Grigny and “Caps sur les Ondes” by the Association S[CUBE]-partageons les sciences)
More info here
Germany
Junge Oper Stuttgart
12th and 13th May, 5pm in the Alte Musikhochschule, Urbansplatz 2, Stuttgart
My Own World
Workshop presentation of the Junge Oper Stuttgart’s drama group for everybody aged 18+
Have you ever been lost in your own world? Has opera music ever taken you to another place?
A group of eight adults has been taking this mental journey since last autumn and will present their own play to you. Who will get stuck, who can move on?
Free entrance
12th May, 2pm and 3:30pm in the Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart
The three Robbers
Pillow concert for children aged 4 to 7
based on the children’s book by Tomi Ungerer
The three robbers ambush carriages and rob the travelers. When they meet the little orphan girl Tiffany on one of their raids, their lives change. They begin searching for other unhappy children, buy a magnificent castle for them and eventually found a complete city.
More info here
Italy
Europa InCanto
Europa InCanto and Teatro di Roma-Teatro Nazionale are delighted to invite you on Sunday 6th May 2018 at 11.00 a.m. to the Teatro Argentina di Roma to the performance of Aida, in a special edition dedicated to the European Year of the Cultural Heritage, on the occasion of the European Opera Days as part of the project “Scuola InCanto”.
Find out more about Aida here.
Norway
Den Norske Opera & Ballett
6 May: Purriot for the whole family: Free concert, sing-song, reading and playing for children / families,based on the book and new opera Purriot og den forsvunne bronsehesten. In cooperation with Cappelen Damm Publishing.
(Purriot and the vanished bronze horse is a new family opera by Gisle Kverndokk (music) and Bjørn F. Rørvik (libretto)
6 May: Balcony concert with members of the opera chorus – Songs of Travel (Øystein Skree, bass, Mariangiola Martello, piano) + Otto Notturni (Saverio Mercadante (music), Pietro Metastasio (lyrics) by Solvind Ensemble (Cecilie Ødegården (soprano), Anne-Marie Andersen (mezzo soprano), Nicholas Cotellessa (tenor), Pietro Simone (bassbaritone), Mariangiola Martello (piano).
6 May: Guided tours for children / families
6 May: Host and information desk – in the foyer
12 May: Guided tours for children / families
12 May: Host and information desk – in the foyer
12 May: Purriot og den forsvunne bronsehesten – World premiere of an opera for children
4-13 May: Guided tours in Norwegian and Englishevery day during the whole EOD period.
4-13 May: Free exhibition about Den Norske Opera & Ballet’s 60 years anniversary – in the foyer.
6 and 12 May: EOD and EYCH logos will be displayed on stands in the foyer
Russia
Moscow State Opera and Ballet
During EOD 2018 Moscow State Opera and Ballet will have their regular repertoire, plus debates before the shows and during the intermissions debates with young spectators on the role of opera and theatre in the contemporary world, thematic guided tours of theatre and workshops where children will have a possibility to get acquainted with and try different theatre professions.
Spain
Teatro Real
Dido and Eneas
10 May
Opera for young audiences
Dido and Eneas, a story of love, friendship and jealousy
Based on the opera by Henry Purcell
A Teatro Real production
From 9 years
Sweden
GöteborgsOperan
For the twelfth year in a row, opera houses all over Europe are laying on exciting activities with that little bit extra to celebrate the art of opera. This year’s theme is Where the Past Meets the Future. The Göteborg Opera will be celebrating with an opera marathon, special effects, open rehearsals and guided tours. We look forward to seeing you!
Programme 5 May – free entry!
10:30
The opera house, the café, the box office and Opera Shop open. The foyer hosts a mini costume exhibition, showing scene clothing from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
10:45-11:30
Guided tour, meeting point outside the box office. Limited places available. Secure your place by printing your ticket here , available from 27 April at 12 noon.
11-11.30
Open rehearsal of the opera The Monster in the Maze. The ensemble of nearly 180 people of different ages – both professional singers and amateur singers from all across the age spectrum – will rehearse together with the chorus master, director and choreographer. The final rehearsal in the rehearsals room before the ensemble takes the step up and starts rehearsing on the Main Stage. The Small Stage dress circle. Standing room only. Limited places available.
11:45-12:30
Guided tour, meeting point outside the box office. Limited places available. Secure your place by printing your ticket here, available from 27 April at 12 noon.
12AM-3PM
Opera Marathon in the foyer. A musical journey through four centuries of musical drama, with arias, duets and ensembles from 17th century Monteverdi operas to modern day Adès. Participation from singers (soloists and chorus singers) and musicians. The Göteborg Opera dramaturgist Göran Gademan will present the programme. The concert lasts for three hours, and you, the audience, are free to come and go as you please.
1:15-2PM
Guided tour, meeting point outside the box office. Limited places available. Secure your place by printing your ticket here, available from 27 April at 12 noon.
2-2:30PM
Open rehearsal of the opera The Monster in the Maze. The ensemble of nearly 180 people of different ages – both professional singers and amateur singers from all across the age spectrum – will rehearse together with the choirmaster, director and choreographer. The final rehearsal in the rehearsals room before the ensemble takes the step up and starts rehearsing on the Main Stage. The Small Stage dress circle. Standing room only. Limited places available.
3-3.30PM
Wow! Special effects – Advanced technology or pure magic? Theatre technician Roman Lindqvist will be here to show and tell. The meeting point is outside the box office. Limited places available. Secure your place by printing your ticket here, available from 27 April at 12 noon.
3.30-4PM
Wow! Special effects – Advanced technology or pure magic? See above.
The Göteborg Opera Café will be open 10:30-16:00.
The Göteborg Opera Restaurant opens at 16:00.
More info here
UK
Glyndebourne
To celebrate European Opera Days 2018 you can watch Lewis Murphy’s youth opera Belongings in full on the Glyndebourne website.
The opera will be available to watch in full from Friday 4 to Monday 13 May 2018.
Belongings is a newly commissioned opera composed by Lewis Murphy (Glyndebourne’s Young Composer-in- Residence) with a libretto by Laura Attridge. Belongings tracks the journeys of two groups of young people, divided by decades but united by the geographical displacement they experience.
Accompanied by their teacher, a group of evacuees board the train from London to Lewes to escape the Blitz, singing of the exciting adventure they anticipate in the countryside. Their optimism fades as they begin to pine for home, and one group decides to run away.
Meanwhile, in the present day, a group of refugee children are re-building their recently demolished shelters. They try to remain positive while contemplating the dangerous final stage of their journeys
More info here
The European Opera Days are a joint initiative of Opera Europa and RESEO, in collaboration with Réunion des Opéras de France, Opera XXI Spain, NOCC UK, OMTF UK, OperaNorge Norway and AMT Russia.
