Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence
Find the complete 2019 Aix-en-Provence Opera Festival and book your tickets online now!
It has never been so imperative to reserve places in advance, especially as many productions are eagerly awaited.
We are thrilled to discover the new program of the Festival of Lyric Art of Aix en Provence 2019. The event is significant for one of the most prestigious opera happenings in Europe and in the world. The Aix Festival, which has been bringing together the greatest names in opera for more than 70 years, has a particular relevance this season since it hosts its new artistic director. Music lovers already know Pierre Audi, the director who led the Amsterdam Opera masterfully. True to the great tradition of the Festival d'Aix, he chose to open his mandate with a work of Mozart but he offers however an originality. This year 2019, it is not an opera that is showing but the famous Requiem staged by one of the most brilliant personalities of the theater. Romeo Castellucci is not only has an incredible eye for detail, but also is an artist who sustains a deep reflection on faith. By entrusting the musical direction to Raphaël Pichon, the new artistic director of the Aix-en-Provence Festival has simply chosen the best and most exciting conductor of the young generation.
The strength of Opera Festivals is to offer other proposals than those of traditional seasons. The cinema and opera director Christophe Honoré is much-admired thanks to his sense of theater and exceptional psychological awareness. His vision of Tosca is highly anticipated especially with the admirable Angel Blue in the title role facing one of the most beautiful voices of tenors today, Joseph Calleja. Very beautiful evenings are announced under the skies of the Théâtre de l´Archevêche (The Archbishop´s Theater). You should not wait too long before reserving your places.
Another opera on the bill, Jakob Lenz is a contemporary work of quality by Wolfgang Rhim. By inviting the production of the immense German director Andrea Breth to the Grand Théâtre de Provence, the organizers are offering festival-goers in Aix-en-Provence the opportunity to discover a visionary show that has obtained the highest distinction of German theater. We could not find anyone more suitable in the title role than the exceptional baritone Georg Nigl. In the contemporary domain, at the Jeu de Paume Theater, we also appreciate the creation of the opera The Sleeping Thousand by Adam Maor, a 36-year-old composer. The Auditorium of the Darius Milhaud Conservatory welcomes Blank Out, an experience of Michel van der Aa that combines music, theater, 3D cinema and digital technologies. Also on the lyrical side, the return of Esa-Pekka Salonen in Aix is a big event. After the successes of the Stravinsky, Pelleas and Melisande or Elektra, the genius conductors directs an exciting work of Kurt Weill, Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (Greatness and decay of the city of Mahagonny). With great joy, music lovers treasure the return of the great singer Karita Mattila who plays the role of Leokadja Begbick.
As for concerts, Mozart is still honored with the grandiose last symphonies led by Raphaël Pichon at the head of his ensemble Pygmalion. In a program of Sibelius and Stravinsky, Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts his own cello concerto with the brilliant Truls Mørk. Salonen also leads the Philharmonia Orchestra in a film-concert around Fritz Lang's movie Metropolis. Finally, two magnificent Mahler concerts to be noticed. With the Paris Orchestra under the direction of Ingo Metzmacher, Das Lied von der Erde brings together Andreas Schager, the extraordinary Wagnerian tenor and Sarah Connolly, a no less breathtaking mezzo. The Lied eines fahrenden Gesellen is performed by John Chest.
The 2019 season of the International Festival of Lyric Art in Aix-en-Provence is not to be missed. Reservations are open. We must quickly book our opera and concert tickets to ensure our seat!