Medea front carpet

. Foto: Jean Philippe Raibaud

As a part of the 100 years jubilee for Théatre des Champs Élysees in Paris a Triologie of Medea is in the program, the three Medea productions which is being presented are as follows:

Médée by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, (1693) which has been going on for the periode 12-23
. October. It will be revieved here today.

Medea by Pascal Dusapin (1992) choreography by Sasha Waltz from 2007, will  be presented 9. and 10th. November
.

Médée by Luigi Cherubini (1797), with Les Talens Lyriques, choire from Radio France, and a long line of soloists. Conducted by Christophe Rousset, and staged by Krzysztof Warlikowski. Will be ending the triologi with three performance 10. 12. and 14th. December 2012.

Shortly described: A character from Greek legend, Medea is a sorceress who is known for the horror of her crimes. After allowing Jason to take the Golden Fleece, she runs away with him and kills her own brother, whose body she throws into the sea.
When they arrive in Greece, she helps Jason take vengeance on Pelias, who killed his parents. Jason and Medea then flee with their two children to Corinth, where Jason falls in love with the daughter of Creon.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Beautiful Médée by Marc-Antoine Charpentier at Théatre des Champs Élysées

– unfortunately, it was, for me visually, partly spoiled by a strange scenography, which looks good on photos, but in praxis became strange, Itseemed to me that the scenographer, Jonathan Meese, was doing a solo trip in making effects, which some times, for exempel in musicakls, can be very popular and effectfull, but in this kind of baroque opera, i feel it is kitchy.

In this version of Medea, which is a co-production between the Opera de Lille and Théatre des Champs Élysée it is musically based on Emmanuelle Haïm and her ensemble Le Concert d’Astrée and the Choire d’Astrée. A good choise, where I enjoyed Emmanuelle Haïm´s musicality, and her letting the singers sing and let them bloom like flowers, which they did. She has a wonderful cast to cooperate with: Michèle Losier brilliant in the titelrole. Anders Dahlin beautiful as Jason, his voice is nearly perfect for this part, to my point of view. Sophie Karthäuser is great as Créüse, has the right sound,  La Victoire. Stéphane Degout  wonderful and trustfull as Oronte. Laurent Naouri´s beautiful bass voice was shining as Créon, the King. and many more in the roles. (See role list below).

Medea and Jason (rehearsal photo) Michèle Losier and Anders Dahlin. photo: Jean Philippe Raibaud (?)

Médée is a tragédie mise en musique in five acts and a prologue by Marc-Antoine Charpentier to a French libretto by Thomas Corneille. It was premiered in Paris on December 4, 1693. Médée is the only opera Charpentier wrote for the Académie Royale de Musique.

The opera was well reviewed by contemporary critics and commentators,  as well as Louis XIV whose brother attended several performances, as did his son; however, the opera only ran until March 15, 1694, although it was later revived at Lille, Where it shall be shown 6th – 15th of November 2012,  it is a Co-production with Opera de Lille.

Medea and Créuse, Michele Losier (left) og Sophie Karthauser, foto Jean Philippe Raibaud

Some parts of the opera was so musically and beautiful performed that it is not possible to describe it.  Some of the he modern costumes was for some of the female roles good. But for the male figures in daily clothes. Except for the “uniforms” for the choire and Jason
. And the golden coat for the King. Costumes by Jorge Jara. I had a feeling that the scenographer and the costumier has tryed to cooperate with the golden effects, such as Goldbars, which partly functioned well, but not was perfect.

Medea and the king, Michèle Losier and Laurent Naouri. foto Jean Philippe Raibaud

Kim Brandstrup has put the choreography into a system, which worked well for the production. Staging by Pierre Audi functioned well, – but some hysterical ideas didn´t function at all, and made the tragedie comically.

The two childrens was performed by Mona Pehlivanian and Philippe Carlean-Jones.

Distribution:

Emmanuelle Haïm direction

Emmanuelle Haïm

Pierre Audi mise en scène
Jonathan Meese scénographie
Jorge Jara costumes
Willem Bruls dramaturgie
Jean Kalman lumières
Kim Brandstrup chorégraphie.

*
Michèle Losier, Médée, princesse de Colchos (soprano), La Gloire,
Anders Dahlin, Jason, prince de Thessalie (haute-contre)
Stéphane Degout, Oronte, prince d’Argos (baryton)
Sophie Karthäuser, Créüse, fille de Créon (soprano), La Victoire
Laurent Naouri, Créon, roi de Corinthe (basse)
Aurélia Legay, Nérine, confidente de Médée (soprano), Bellone
Elodie Kimmel, Cléone, confidente de Créuse (soprano)
Katherine Watson, Une Italienne, un fantôme

Benoît Arnould, Arcas, confident de Jason (ténor)

Clémence Olivier, l’Amour

Samuel Boden, Corinthien I

Matthieu Chapuis, Corinthien II

Le Concert d’Astrée
Choeur d’Astrée