Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme - Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles (2015) - Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme - Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles (2015)

Description

After the success of its performances at the Opéra Royal, where it was filmed, this colourful Bourgeois gentilhomme returns to Versailles! In the Bourgeois gentilhomme, Molière traces the portrait of an adventurer of the mind, whose only wish is to escape his “ignoble” origin to set foot on territories from which he is excluded… to discover a terra incognita, which is inaccessible to him because of his birth. Why laugh at Monsieur Jourdain? 

The bourgeois only wants to discover what we call today “culture” and painstakingly undertakes to bring his dreams to life… What matters if these dreams are those of a ridiculous man?

When choosing to perform the play its original form, a comedy-ballet on music by Lully, Denys Podalydès called on all art forms. This celebration of the theatre in costumes designed by Christian Lacroix, aims to reach the apotheosis of all senses so devoutly wished for by his hero, interpreted by Pascal Rénéric. We must laugh at the comedy. But how not to feel some sympathy for this man without qualities trying to initiate the first cultural revolution all by himself? After a thousand comical twists and turns, he is elevated to the high rank of “Mamamouchi”, and experiences his hour of glory in music and dance, sickened by his low birth, an imaginary gentleman, his desires are granted but he is beaten, duped and triumphant, in this rare theatrical moment where ridicule gives way to pure wonderment.

Cast :

Pascal Rénéric, Monsieur Jourdain

Emeline Bayart, Isabelle Candelier, Madame Jourdain

Jean-Noël Brouté, Alexandre Steiger, The master tailor and Covielle

Julien Campani, The music tutor and Dorante

Manon Combes, Nicole

Bénédicte Guilbert, Dorimène

Francis Leplay, The philosophy tutor

Leslie Menu, Elodie Huber, Lucile

Nicolas Orlando, Manuel Le Lièvre, The fencing master

Laurent Podalydès, Hermann Marchand, Léo Reynaud, A lackey

Thibault Vinçon, The dancing master Cléonte

Windy Antognelli, Flavie Hennion et Artemis Stavridi, Dancers

Romain Champion, Cécile Granger, Marc Labonnette, Geoffroy Buffière, Anicet Castel, Thilo Hirch, Singers

Francisco Mañalich, Singer and viola da gamba

Denis Podalydès, Direction

Eric Ruf (Sociétaire de la Comédie Française), Scenography

Christian Lacroix, Costumes

Stéphanie Daniel, Lights

Véronique Soulier-Nguyen, Makeup and hair

Emmanuel Bourdieu, Artistic collaboration

Kaori Ito, Choreography

Ensemble La Révérence

Christophe Coin, conductor

More information is available on the operahouse's official website.