“Perhaps the best thing for the princess would have been to fall in love. But how a princess who had no gravity could fall into anything is a difficulty—perhaps the difficulty.” George MacDonald

Once upon a time, there lived an author of fairy tales who might have been considered austere, for he was a Calvinist priest and British subject. In fact, he was nothing of the sort: the stories of George MacDonald – for that was the author’s name – were full of delicious fantasy, delicate humour and tender affection for the human soul of which few are capable,  drawing the admiration of his literary friends, such as J.R.R. Tolkien, W.H. Auden and Lewis Carroll.

One of his creations, The Light Princess, tells the story of a child who in all ways has no gravity. Impossible for her to play with a ball, her feet don’t touch the ground: instead, she becomes the ball, or balloon, rather. Impossible for her to comprehend a serious situation: the smallest thing amuses her, making her laugh constantly.  Her well-intentioned parents – a king and queen, all the better  – and the eternal power of love set her feet back on the ground.

The charm of this princess, who first came to light in 1864, has never left the hearts and minds of the public. We’ve seen her even on Broadway and in London’s West End, a  heroine of musical comedy. Today she will return in an enchantment by Violeta Cruz, a young composer born in Colombia, passionate of electro-acoustic and sonic mysteries, which she previously developed at Ircam.

Magician also invited ’round the cradle, the Belgian Jos Houben was a member of the famous troupe Complicité, and himself an accomplice of Georges Aperghis and Peter Brook. A fine connoisseur of the absurd, he is the ideal stage director for this children’s fairy tale in which the adults might learn a few lessons, too. Here, then, is a princess with a promising future…

This show is eligible for “Opera with the family” tickets for all dates.

Full ticket price 10€ | Under 18 years old 8€

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON “OPERA WITH THE FAMILY” TICKETS

Saturday 16 December at 5:30 p.m.

Workshop 4-10 years old Les 400 Coups

While you attend a week-end performance at the Opera, your children can participate in a musical and interactive workshop led by specialised musicians.

Tickets 10€ for 1 child / 7.50€ per additional child

Reservations at the Ticket office and by telephone +33(0)362 21 21 21

La Princesse légère
Violeta Cruz (née en 1986)
d’après le conte de fées de George MacDonald
Livret de Gilles Rico

Direction musicale Jean Deroyer (13, 16 déc.) / Pierre Dumoussaud (15 déc.)
Mise en scène Jos Houben / Emily Wilson
Décors et costumes Oria Puppo
Lumières Nicolas Simonin
Réalisation en informatique musicale Ircam, Augustin Muller

Avec
La Princesse Jeanne Crousaud
La Reine Majdouline Zerari
Le Roi Nicholas Merryweather
Le Prince Jean-Jacques L’Anthoën
Acteurs Kate Colebrook, Guy-Loup Boisneau

Ensemble Court-circuit

RENCONTRE APRÉS SPECTACLE

ve 15 décembre à 21h15

Rencontrez et échangez avec l’équipe artistique, à l’issue de la représentation. accès libre sur présentation du billet de spectacle, à l’Opéra de Lille

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INTRODUCTION AU SPECTACLE EN FAMILLE

sa 16 décembre, à 17h30

Présentation de l’oeuvre et du livret 30 minutes avant le début de la représentation, dans le Grand Foyer.
accès libre sur présentation du billet de spectacle, à l’Opéra de Lille, Grand Foyer

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LES 400 COUPS - OPÉRA EN FAMILLE

Sa 16 décembre, à 17h30

Pendant que vous assistez à la représentation du week-end à l’Opéra, vos enfants participent à un atelier musical et interactif encadré par des musiciens spécialisés.
de 4 à 10 ans, tarif 10€ pour 1 enfant / 7,50€ par enfant supplémentaire
Réservation aux guichets et par téléphone +33(0)362 21 21 21