THE RETURN OF ULYSSES – MONTEVERDI
NEW CO-PRODUCTION OPERA FUOCO & OPÉRA DE MASSY
APRIL 23th, 2027 - 8:00 PM
APRIL 25th, 2027 - 4:00 PM
OPÉRA DE MASSY
MONTEVERDI (1640)
An Urban Myth Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria could be considered the first psychological drama in the history of opera. Monteverdi plays with contrasting states of consciousness and develops an irresistible musical language through which he brings to life human, subtle, and believable characters. By combining the rhetoric of the early Baroque with a contemporary physicality, David Stern and Anne Nguyen invite the audience to experience The Return of Ulysses in a new and powerful way.
Anne Nguyen portrays Ulysses as a man who bears the torments and scars of war. To reclaim his name, his history, his role within his family, and his place in society, the war hero must trade his identity for that of the eternal migrant, a victim of the choices made by those in power. Ulysses' return to his homeland will only be possible if he acquires the moral discernment that will allow him to reconcile the multiple layers of reality upon which power is founded. The set design is built around the symbol of the bridge, a place of transcendence and transition, and the gradual unveiling of the cargo inside a shipping container, an emblem of migration. From jet-set-style gods to would-be heads of state, the singers of Opera Fuoco embody the turbulent relationships between figures representing modern power. Alongside them, the powerful dance of three breakdancers celebrates the will of the gods and the passions of the human soul. Faced with oblivion and alienation, it is by asserting himself as king, as father, and then as the guardian of justice and moral order that Ulysses will finally be able to reclaim full possession of his inner self and restore his ability to act freely in the world.
CREATIVE TEAM & ARTISTS
David Stern - MUSICAL DIRECTION
Anne Nguyen - STAGE DIRECTOR, CHOREGRAPHY, SET DESIGN
Claire Manjarrès - ASSOCIATED STAGE DIRECTOR, ACTING DIRECTION
Simon Huet - COSTUME DESIGNER
Christophe Chaupin - LIGHTING DESIGNER
Jean-Luc Tournée - SET BUILDER
Pedro Octavio Diaz - DRAMATURGY
Nora Darganzani - HARPSICHORD & VOCAL COACH
Current & former soloists from the Opera Fuoco Young Artists Program
Benoît Rameau – ULISSE
Floriane Hasler – PENELOPE
Sophia Stern – MINERVA / FORTUNA
William Shelton – HUMANA FRAGILITA
Guy Elliot – TELEMACO
Max Lartajet – TEMPO / NETTUNO
Olivier Bergeron – EUMETE
Lucas Pauchet – IRO
Étienne de Bénazé – EURIMACO
Cécile Madelin – MELANTO
Marco Angioloni – GIOVE / PISANDRO
George Seymour – ANFINOMO
Thaïs Raï-Westphal – AMORE / GIUNONE
Caroline Meng – ERICLEA
Julien Ségol – ANTINOO
Dancers from the par Terre Company
Jérémy Marie-Joseph
Tengis Jambaatsadmid
Jesus Gil
Opera Fuoco Orchestra
DURATION : 2H30