The Festival International d’Art Lyrique d’Aix–en–Provence is an annual international music festival which takes place each summer in Aix–en–Provence, principally in the month of July. Devoted mainly to opera, it also includes concerts of orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo instrumental music. Aix en Provence Festival is one of the cultural highlights of the year and its open-air performances in the balmy midsummer nights are magical occasions. Every year since 1948, the Festival d’Aix–en–Provence has been boasting a programme of great variety: opera productions, Mozart works, major creations, rediscovery of Baroque masterpieces, chamber orchestra operas and exceptional series of concerts. With this diversity, it caters for an ever growing enthusiastic audience and was quite rightly awarded “Best festival of the year” by the International opera awards 2014.
Place De la Rotunda in Aix-En Provence photo by Daniel Arnold
The 2020 edition of the Festival will be the second of Pierre Audi ‘s term, as Director. The celebrated opera director and arts programmer, wrapped up an impressive 30-year tenure at the Dutch National Opera, last year successfully took charge of of the monthlong Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, one of Europe’s oldest and most respected summer music festivals. Ticket sales commenced on 24th January, so contact us soon with all of your booking needs
The 2020 festival runs from 30th June until 18th July and here are the opera highlights
Festival Programme 2020
Wozzeck
Alban Berg’s chilling autopsy of a tragedy, a piercing examination of abysmal despair, Wozzeck is an emblematic opera of the 1920s, a harbinger of the unease and aching void of the 20th century, haunted by war and death, the misery of the human condition set to a music that is economical in its effects and carefully composed, yet whose emotional power grabs the listener by the throat. Christian Gerhaher stars in the title role, supported by Anja Kampe. The conductor is Sir Simon Rattle. Performed at the Grand Théâtre De Provence.
30 June 2020, 3, 7, 10, 13 July 2020 all at 20.00h.
Così Fan Tutte
In Mozart’s opera, two soldiers are persuaded into a bet that the sisters they love will remain faithful, then lose said bet when they seduce each other’s partners in disguise, somehow unrecognised by the women until the grand reveal in the final scene. This well loved and farcical opera is a perennial favourite. Véronique Gens stars as Fiordiligi. Performed at the Théâtre De L’ Archevêché.
Dates: 1 3 6 8 10 13 15 17 July 2020 all at 21.30h.
The Golden Cockerel
Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel is based on Pushkin’s 1834 poem, “The Tale of the Golden Cockerel” and was completed in 1907. The Tsar Dodon thinks that his country is in danger and reaches out for the advice of an astrologer who supplies a magic Golden Cockerel to protect him. The cockerel confirms the Tsar’s fears and the leader pre-emptively attacks a neighbouring country with an army led by his sons. The opera stars Sabine Devieilhe. and is being performed at the Théâtre De L’ Archevêché.
L’incoronazione di Poppea
In Claudio Monteverdi’s opera, a tyrant falls in love with an attractive woman. Together they eliminate everything that might in any way impede their desire: their former marital partners, and also the voice of reason. Passion claims victims. In these golden years of streaming, this could be the plot of a popular series, but as an opera the subject has already been around for almost 375 years! Performed at Théâtre Jeu de Paume.
Innocence
Kaija Saariaho is a prominent member of a group of Finnish composers and performers … Her fifth opera, Innocence, will be premiered at this festival with Susanna Malkki conducting. This is a ravishing new opera that takes place in two parallel periods of time. It deals with the wounds of the past, the passing of time, and the act of letting go. Performed at the Grand Théâtre De Provence.
L’Orfeo
In this 1607 masterpiece, Orfeo, Monteverdi created the first opera that both survived the centuries and stuck in the repertory — a work of music and theatre that displayed a brand new sort of artistic alchemy. The performance takes place at Théâtre du Jeu de Paume, and is conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón.
Date: 15 July 2020 at 20.00h.
