This superlatively written miniature opera offers a perfect summary of French lyric art where, in just six scenes, we glide from carefree entertainment to absolute tragedy. Adapted from Ovid’s Metamorphosis, Actéon is a far cry from the pleasant pastorals composed in its day; a sort of Médée before its time.

The young hunter Actéon surprises the goddess Diana, bathing naked with her nymphs. He hides to see more but is discovered. Furious, Diana transforms him into a stag. He is then pursued and devoured by his own dogs. Charpentier’s highly refined score sets all its components at an extreme level of concentration, whether for the exposition of the plot, the forces used, or the duration.

Emmanuelle Haïm has given special thought to this project to highlight the individual qualities of the artists from the Concert d’Astrée. Several of them regularly gather in small formations for the Wednesday Concerts, and this production reunites about a dozen promising young singers and some 15 instrumentalists from the orchestra. They will be placed under the direction of Atsushi Sakaï, who has worked with the Concert d’Astrée since its creation and is now embarking with success on a conducting career.

Pastoral in music in six scenes by Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704).
Anonymous libretto in french after Les Métamorphoses by Ovide.
Premiered in 1685.

Preceded by Pan and Syrinx by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)
Original playlet composite from the extracts of:
Opening of Psyché by Jean-Baptiste Lully, tragedy in music created by The Royal Music Academy in 1678
III^th acte (scènes 4 à 6) of Isis byJean-Baptiste Lully, tragedy in music created by The Royal Music Academy in 1677
Plainte extracted from the 2nd suite in G minor from Pieces in trio (1692) by Marin Marais (1656-1728)

Conductor Atsushi Sakaï and Emmanuelle Haïm (for the preparation)
Stage director Damien Caille-Perret
Assistant of the stage director Yves Lenoir
Scenography & costumes Céline Perrigon
Assistant of the costumes Peggy Sturn
Lights Jérémie Papin

With

Samuel Boden Actéon
Lucy Page Diane
Elodie Kimmel Arethuze
Cécile Dalmon Daphné
Eugénie Lefebvre Hyale
Anna Wall Junon

Elodie Kimmel Syrinx
Jean-Michel Ankaoua Pan
Erwin Aros Mercure
Christophe Sam Argus
Christophe Baska, Jean-Christophe Clair, Jean-Christophe Henry shepherds

Young soloists and Orchestra of Le Concert d’Astrée, ensemble in residency at Lille Opera.
Société Générale Patronage Musicale is principal patron of Le Concert d’Astree.

we 6th MARch at 5:30 pm
Pre-PERFORMANCE presentation
Presentation of the libretto
Free admission without reservation, for ticket holders for the evening performance.

FR 8TH MARch at 9:10 pm
an encounter
with the artists following the performance. Free admission.