when the Opera is transformed into a university library to “desecrate the place”

For 4 years, the Nice Opera has been transformed twice a month into a giant university library for half a day, during the artists’ rehearsals on stage. The opportunity for students to discover the world of Opera for free, while revising their exams.

In the seats of the Nice Opera hall, on January 14, somewhat unusual spectators took their seats for an afternoon. This unusual audience is made up of students, who benefit from a collaboration between the University of Côte d’Azur and the Opera which has lasted for four years now, which transforms the large performance hall into a giant university library.

The students attend, while revising their lessons, rehearsals of the troupe of Opera singers. On the program this Tuesday, for the working atmosphere, a classic: The magic flute, by Mozart. The sixty students present are delighted: “It makes opera a lot less intimidating, because when we’re students, opera seems so inaccessible to us, and from another time a bit“, whispers Estelle Baston.

It’s an opera that I dreamed of seeing when I was little.

Estelle Baston,

student.

Anaïs Joulia, a medical student, discreetly tells us that she is “came across it by chance” on the University’s student platform. And despite the ambient noise, she keeps an eye on her classes: “I can concentrate well. Always doing your work in the same place, always in the same time slots, it’s a bit redundant. So I find it really great, we’re in the mood, but on the other hand it changes our framework for working so it’s really good“.

The organizers of this giant university library are also excited to continue what was originally an experiment. “Bringing a young audience of students to see a 4-hour opera in German with surtitles is not necessarily easy. So it seemed like an excellent idea to desecrate the place.“, tell Audiane Plagiau, the ddirector of audiences at the Nice Opera. All in one “desire to open the doors wide to all audiences“.

It gives them a bit of an insight into what we experience on a daily basis, into the making of a show.

Listen to Plagiaus

Director of audiences at the Nice Opera

This rather unusual partnership also allows the cultural branch of the University of the Côte d’Azur to co-produce concerts or artist showcases with the Opera once or twice a year. The pianist Sofiane Pamart and the rapper Luidji were, for example, both welcomed a few months ago, with places costing a few euros for students. “One of our missions is to ensure that students open the doors of the region’s cultural institutions.“, summarizes Julien Gaertner, the director of the university’s culture center.

We also realized that classical music had a calming effect, which made it easier to concentrate.

Julien Gaertner,

Director of culture at the University of Côte d’Azur.

From now on, the opening of the site two afternoons per month, which is still done by reservation, has become “a kind of ritual for students“, he believes. In the coming months, rehearsals of other great classics, like Carmen or the Barber of Sevillewill take place during the BU at the opera.

With the hope of triggering some passions for this art: “We hope that it will take away a little of this shyness they have in relation to this decorum, these red carpets, this gilding, and make them want to come back“, concludes the Opera’s audience director.