-

Season 2016-2017: Versailles Spectacles (Versailles)

Discover the 2016-2017 season!

 

Seven years have passed since the splendid Royal Opera at Versailles reopened to the public. The room is a splendor that in itself is worth a visit but it is especially ideal for hosting baroque music and prestigious concerts. For 7 years, keeping in mind the history of the place, the programmers of Versailles Spectacle have proposed a series of exceptional events between operas in stage or concert version, song recitals and symphony concerts at the Royal Opera and the Royal Chapel mainly, but also in the Hall of Mirrors.

 

The 2016-2017 season is no exception to the rule presenting highlight after highlight to the point that it is almost impossible for the amateur to make a sensible choice.

 

At Versailles, like nowhere else, every evening is worth a look and as a matter of fact, some dates may be sold out very quickly. It is always wise to book seats for shows at Versailles as soon as possible when we know for example that this season, the grandiose Cecilia Bartoli will interpret Rossini’s La Cenerentola, one of her greatest roles! Other major events mark the season like Mozart’s Don Giovanni, staged by Ivan Alexander and directed by Marc Minkowski. The duo already has some successes to its credit and their new collaboration is very promising. French Baroque music is being honored at the Château de Versailles, this is obvious, but talent is fortunately also highlighted. In addition to Marc Minkowski, four French directors have carte blanche to these concert series, intelligently entrusted to Raphael Pichon, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Sébastien Daucé and last but not least, Vincent Dumestre. Among the national directors, not to forget Christophe Rousset, Hervé Niquet, François-Xavier Roth or even William Christie (with French citizenship since over twenty years). Important international baroque batons responded to the call. Master Jordi Savall directs, a rare thing, a staged opera. John Eliot Gardiner continues his Bach pilgrimage as does Robert King, another great exponent of Baroque music in the UK.
No less than eleven staged operas are presented as the beautiful Dido and Aeneas by Purcell seen in Rouen or the hilarious King Arthur directed by Corinne and Gilles Benizio alias Shirley and Dino. The tradition has its place in this historic place, yet beautifully anchored in modern ways for rediscovery of Baroque music.