Having entered the lexicon of modern mythologies, Kafka’s Metamorphosis is, for the first time, adapted for opera by the composer Michaël Levinas. Working with the language to reveal its lyric vocal qualities, the composer mixes song with hybrid computerised techniques. A quest “in sound beyond sound” with the musicians of Ictus, who interpret this commission from the Lille Opera.

La Métamorphose after Kafka
Preceded by Je, tu, il (Valère Novarina)
Opera by Michaël Levinas
Commissioned by Opéra de Lille and the Minister of Culture and Communication of France
Coproduction Opéra de Lille, Ircam-Centre Pompidou.

World creation at the Opéra de Lille on march 2011
Libretto in french :
Je, tu, il by Valère Novarina (Prologue à la Métamorphose, commissionned by the Opéra de Lille)
Text adapted from La Métamorphose (Die Verwandlung) by Franz Kafka (1915)
Emmanuel Moses et Michaël Levinas

La Métamorphose after Kafka
Preceded by Je, tu, il (Valère Novarina)
Opera by Michaël Levinas

Chanté en français
Commissioned by Opéra de Lille and the Minister of Culture and Communication of France
Libretto in french, commissioned by Opéra de Lille : Je, tu, il* (Prologue to The Metamorphosis) by Valère Novarina
Text adapted from La Métamorphose (Die Verwandlung) by Franz Kafka (1915)
Emmanuel Moses, Michaël Levinas and Benoît Meudic
Music assisted by computer Ircam Benoit Meudic
Edition Henry Lemoine

Ictus Ensemble, Conductor Georges-Elie Octors
Stage direction Stanislas Nordey
Sets Emmanuel Clolus
Costumes Raoul Fernandez
Lights Stéphanie Daniel
Vocal coach Christophe Manien
Sound engineer Ircam Sylvain Cadars

Avec
Je, tu, il (Prologue to The Metamorphosis) :
Magali Léger, Anne Mason, Julie Pasturaud & André Heyboer

The Metamorphosis :
Fabrice Di Falco Grégor Samsa
Magali Léger Grégor’s sister
André Heyboer The Father
Hanna Schaer The Mother
Simon Bailey The Employer
Julie Pasturaud The Maid
Laurent Laberdesque, Simon Bailey,
Arnaud Guillou Three Tenants

Ictus :
George Van Dam violin, Aurélie Entringer viola, François Deppe cello, Géry Cambier, Elise Christiaens double bass, Michael Schmid flute, Bruce Richards horn, Philippe Ranallo trumpet, Alain Pire trombone, Jean-Luc Fafchamps, Jean-Luc Plouvier Midi keyboard, Tom Pauwels electric guitar, Gerrit Nulens, Miquel Bernat drums, Annie Lavoisier harp

Coproduction Opéra de Lille, Ircam-Centre Pompidou
With the support of  Fonds de création lyrique
Michaël Levinas is in residency at Ircam for creation
Ictus ensemble is in residency at Opéra de Lille

Je, Tu, Il was written for Michaël Levinas and is the heart of Valère Novarina’s last book, Le Vrai sang (POL editions).

Michaël Levinas thanks Solveig Robbes and Le Balcon ensemble conducted by Maxime Pascal, for their musical collaboration at several steps of the composition.
The performance of La Métamorphose in Lille are supported by Crédit du Nord.
Listen to La Métamorphose on France Musique (FM 88.7 in Lille) : Wednesday 30 March at 20:30

MONDAY 17 JANUARY
FRANCE MUSIQUE
LE MAGAZINE by LIONEL ESPARZA
this edition is dedicated to La Métamorphose,
with the composer Michaël Levinas and the stage director Stanislas Nordey.
Listen

FRIDAY 21 JANUARY AT 8 PM
LEVINAS CAMERATA
Read more on the concert

WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY AT 6 PM
CONCERT / ICTUS CYCLE
Oscillations / Boogie-Woogie
Michaël Levinas
String quartet N° 1 1999
With Ictus String Quartet
In the presence of the composer

WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH AT 6 PM
CONCERT / ASTRÉE CYCLE
Metamorphoses in music
Clérambault, Rameau, Landi
For voice, harpsichord, dessus and bass continues

SATURDAY 12 MARCH FROM NOON to 6:30 PM
HAPPY DAY METAMORPHOSIS
Free admission

The Lille Opera opens wide its door, with free admission to all parts of the building for debates, concerts, workshops, lectures,…
 in the context of the world creation of Michaël Levinas’ opera : The Metamorphosis.

FROM THE 2ND TO THE 7TH MAY
FRAGMENTS IN ARRAS THEATER
One week of contemporary music: in the heart of this 2nd edition, a portrait of the composer Michaël Levinas, with Michaël Levinas, the group Utopik, Magali Léger, Fabrice Bihan, Wilhem Latchoumia…

Complete program on www.theatredarras.com
03 21 71 66 16 (box office)