To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ukrainian composer Theodor Akimenko, the Opera Orchestra is proud to present the world premiere of his 1914 opera, the manuscript of which remained buried for over a century. Freely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale " The Ice Maiden ," the opera transports us to the heart of the Alps, to a pristine white world guarded by the Virgin, the mountain's guardian spirit. Opposite her, young Rudy, haunted by his father's death in the mountains, inaugurates a luxury hotel complex high in the mountains, under the watchful eye of the cameras. Two worlds collide: one wild and silent, the other noisy and conquering. The young collective Opera Popolare, winner of the 2025 Ring Award and artists in residence at the Opéra Orchestre, takes on the work with a resolutely contemporary perspective, deploying a visual universe where live footage, object theatre, and video games intersect to better question our relationship with nature. A sensitive and fantastical epic.

The Fairy's Kiss

Opéra Comédie

Orpheus descends to the Underworld to bring Eurydice back to life. His only weapon: his voice, and the power of his song. This foundational myth was transformed by Monteverdi in 1607 into one of the first masterpieces in the history of opera, a work where the music not merely accompanies the drama, but is its very driving force. More than four centuries later, L'Orfeo has lost none of its evocative power. Its instrumental colors, its deeply felt recitatives, and its expressive choruses still speak directly to the emotions. The Jeune Orchestre Baroque Européen, under the direction of Sylvain Sartre and Margaux Blanchard, brings to this score the freshness and commitment of a new generation of musicians trained in the demands of the early style.

Giorgio Pesenti

Events

Upcoming events

22 - 27 Dec, 2026

The Fairy's Kiss · Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

22 - 25 May, 2027

Orfeo · Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

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