Ariane et Barbe-Bleue by Paul Dukas (Sophie Koch : Ariane - Théâtre du Capitole, April 2019). Photo: Cosimo Mirco Magliocca
Flying on the wings of music in Toulouse In the world of international opera and ballet, La Scala in Milan and London’s Covent Garden may be leading lights, but to those in-the-know, the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse is also renowned as one of France’s most prestigious theatres.
very much respect the nature of the drama and the sense of spectacle in the original production.”
TEXT: EDDI FIEGEL
“Like most opera houses in the south of France and Spain,” he continues, “the Wagnerian tradition is very strong with us and our audiences, so continuing that tradition and staging a lavish production with superb singers and voices is key to what we do. And this is very much a key performance for the Toulouse Opera.”
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n a grand, fabulously impressive 18thcentury building, the Théâtre du Capitole houses both the city’s opera and ballet companies, as well as the city orchestra, and has long held a reputation for staging worldclass productions featuring world-class performers and directors. “What we do here at the Théâtre du Capitole is not about blindly following theatrical fashions,” says artistic director Christophe Ghristi, previously of the Opéra National in Paris, “nor about rigidly following classical rules and recreating the past. Our productions are like our opera house – flamboyant and grandiose with spectacular costumes, staging and lighting. They are bold and vibrant, like our Southern European personality and that’s why our audiences love them.”
Wagner’s Parsifal The theatre’s 2020 season will open with an impressive new staging of Wagner’s final opera Parsifal with major operatic names including renowned Austrian tenor Nikolai 74 | Issue 10 | December 2019
Schukoff in the title role, as well as German baritone Matthias Goerne, British baritone Peter Rose and, for her very first time in the role of Kundry, the ‘wild woman’, French mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch. Wagner’s final opera delves deep into the themes which had marked his earlier artistic and personal life: sin, guilt, redemption, sacred love and secular desire and the opera broke new ground musically. “That’s why it requires four exceptional voices,” says Ghristi.
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The opera will also involve a huge cast. “Parsifal is an enormous project,” Ghristi continues, “and will involve the entire opera company and orchestra.” The production will be staged by the groundbreaking director Aurélien Bory, who has gained a worldwide reputation for his visionary productions and magnificent sets. “There will be three innovative new sets,” explains Ghristi, “but at the same time, we
Matthias Goerne (Amfortas in Parsifal by Wagner). Photo: Caroline de Bon