Invoking a season of the Lyon Opera is inevitably remarkable as the outstanding director of the institution, Serge Dorny, has accustomed us to a thoughtful, intelligent and incredibly relevant program. Not many theaters build their seasons around a theme and Lyon, in addition, can be proud of its international flair.
The 2017-2018 season is entitled “Wars and Kings” and accordingly offers Britten’s War Requiem, Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Story, Janacek’s Diary of one who disappeared and the operas of Verdi: Attila, Macbeth and Don Carlos (French version).
A contemporary creation (GerMANIA by Alexander Rastakov) and a rarity (Der Kreidekreis, the Chalk Circle of Zemlinsky) confidently crown a season 2017-2018, already rich in events. And last but not least, the war of the sexes is illustrated by two masterpieces of the opera, Cenerentola de Rossini and Don Giovanni by Mozart.
Under the artistic direction of Daniele Rustoni, the new permanent conductor of the Lyon Opera, the concert season is equally intense with two outstanding recitals (one with Mozart specialist Christian Zacharias and the other with marvelous recitalist Stéphane Degout). The orchestra turns baroque to accompany the counter-tenor Lawrence Zazzo and offers a repertoire with Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Ravel or Poulenc.
Dance is highly appreciated at the Opéra de Lyon and this season is once again filled with great events. Discover the impressive list of choreographers to enjoy! Jirí Kylián is particularly honored as he opens the ball with East Shadow on the music of Schubert. He later returns in another show that also presents a creation of Johan Inger. The other great names are contemporaries William Forsythe, Trisha Brown, Russell Maliphant, Benjamin Millepied and Jerome Bel. The neo-classical style is equally represented with the Bizet evening of Roland Petit where one can applaud the successes L’Arlésienne and Carmen.
The big voices are also well presented in Lyon with particular attention paid to the balance of distributions. As such, the Don Carlos promises to be quite exceptional. The original French version of the masterpiece by Verdi is offered in full extent. Michele Pertusi brings the necessary twist to the King of Spain in front of his young wife with crystalline highs, incarnated by Sally Matthews. Stéphane Degout brings audacity to the role of Rodrigue in an anticipated staging of Christophe Honoré. Don Giovanni has the flattering features of Philippe Sly who is very well surrounded (Eleonora Buratto, Antoinette Dennefeld, Julien Behr). Macbeth is played by Elchin Azizov (a voice to follow) facing Susanna Branchini in Lady Macbeth. Finally, Cenerentola seems ideally distributed with well-known talents Michèle Losier and Cyrille Dubois.
The numerous appointments of the Lyon Opera are all exciting promises.
