Tuesday July 2 at 9 p.m., the Gardens of the Saint-André Abbey, in Villeneuve-lez-Avignon, will serve as the setting for the lyrical show Carmen in complete intimacy, staged by the director of the Grand Avignon opera, Frédéric Roels . Three other performances will follow on Wednesday July 3, at the Pujaut stadium, Thursday 4, in the courtyard of the Château de Saze, and Sunday 7 at the Roquemaure arenas, still at 9 p.m.
Frédéric Roels, who also designed the sets, lights and costumes, offers a very intimate version of Carmen with four voices and a cello a cappella. “This project was really designed to be able to tour, to be performed even in rooms which are not a priori performance halls. The device is more or less autonomous. My adaptation is very respectful of Bizet’s work. I I added nothing or modified the original work. It is only a work of cutting, of concentration, no desire to tell a story other than that of the four main characters Carmen, Micaëla, Don José and Escamillo, with a desire to. talk about today, with contemporary costumes, but the history is in no way betrayed”, confides the director of the Opera.
An experienced baritone alongside three young talents
Four singers and a cellist make up the cast of Carmen Intime. “The role of Escamillo is played by Aimery Lefèvre, a baritone with a lot of experience. The three other performers are very young artists, who have recently left the conservatory.”, specifies Frédéric Roels. Winner of the Raymond-Duffaut competition, “Young hopefuls” category, Axelle Saint-Cirel takes on the title role. Lyriel Benameur (Micaëla) won the Gordes melody competition. Finally, Étienne de Bénazé (Don José) graduated from the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris a short time ago.
The reduction of the instrumental part is entrusted to a single cello. The score being very virtuoso for the instrumentalist, it is provided by the solo cellist of the Rouen opera orchestra, Florent Audibert.
Information and reservations: 04 90 14 26 40 or on www.operagrandavignon.fr.
