“We saw people crying their eyes out”: immersive performances to discover opera differently

Marie Gicquel // Photo credits: BERTRAND GUAY / AFP 8:17 a.m., March 25, 2024

Gilding on the walls to make the Palais Garnier pale, large mirrors and a piano... The luxurious salon of the Simone and Cino Del Duca foundation, in Paris, is normally closed to the public, but it is now possible to hear notes there well known, thanks to the Opera A Palazzo project, which offers the opportunity to listen to operas in private hotels. No orchestra, only three instruments are used to play classics, like here La Traviata. The public finds itself on stage, among the lyrical singers and even becomes an extra.

“People experience emotions with us”

The setting of La Fondation Del Duca appears ideal for playing the Traviata, according to tenor Christophe Poncet de Solages. In the skin of his character, Alfredo, he says: "Tonight, we are at Violetta Valéry's house who is giving a big party. It is a party to which Alfredo is invited. He has been secretly in love with her for a long time. She".

>> READ ALSO -

 Young people, ignorant of art history? Rachida Dati wants to promote access to theater and opera

As in the 19th century, the artists here share the stage with the public, without curtains. Spectators are even offered a glass of champagne by soprano Emilie Rose Bry, in the middle of the opening scene. "We have people very close to us. We saw people crying tears, we even had insults once, during the scene where Alfredo throws me to the ground. People experience the emotions with us and that's it. is absolutely brilliant,” raves the actress.

The lyrical singers change and wait for their stage in the hotel lobby, in front of the groundskeeper, Medhi, who is quite amused by the show. "We are behind the scenes. It's a little bit there that everything, everything is prepared", he slips into the microphone of Europe 1. In this show in total immersion in Verdi's opera, even the The intermission is full of surprises.