Name: Justin Taylor & Léonor de Récondo
Start: 2026-05-17T17:00:00
Location: Opéra Comédie

Justin Taylor

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

Choreographer Benjamin Millepied delves into Barbara's world for his new choreographic creation. Influenced since childhood by French song, he draws from this intimate memory a dance impulse nourished by the singer's powerful melodies and chiseled words.  Through a refined space, bathed in light  and immaculate drapes, bodies appear  and disappear, embodying the range of emotions that run through Barbara's work—between nostalgia, passion, gentleness, and tragedy.

Benjamin Millepied

Opéra Comédie

Poulenc's Les Biches suite opens the ball with its sparkling cocktail of rococo elegance—Parisian salons are never far away, Poulenc frequented them assiduously!—and jazzy rhythms where woodwinds and strings converse in a spirited spirit. The Concerto champêtre then reveals all of Poulenc's audacity, which he had made his calling card: Justin Taylor, a refined harpsichord magician, explores the slightest contrasts between virtuoso traits and tender melodies, while the orchestra, under the direction of the talented Lucie Leguay, weaves a setting that is sometimes mocking, sometimes nostalgic. Chausson's Symphony in B-flat closes the evening with its luminous gravity. A pivotal work between Wagner and Debussy, it deploys an ardent lyricism, from the dark tremors of the adagio to the cyclical exaltation of the finale. Joyfully moving between gallant spirit and romantic depth, this concert is an invitation to a bucolic dream.

Country Concerto

The Montpellier National Opera Choir, conducted by Noëlle Gény, reveals all its virtuosity in a repertoire that is dear to its heart. An exceptional concert where the voices will resonate in all their splendor; don't miss this unforgettable encounter with music and emotion!

Montpellier Occitanie National Opera Choir

Agora Le Crès

This season, no fewer than three exceptional artists – Karine Deshayes, Alexandre Tharaud and Justin Taylor – are sharing their expertise during public masterclasses.

Masterclass Karine Deshayes

Fancy a coffee break like no other? The artists of the National Opera Choir and their choirmaster Noëlle Gény offer you a musical (and gourmet!) break during your day. Join us at 2:30 p.m. for a coffee before the concert!

Coffee Break #3

This connection is notably embodied by the Orchestre Tremplin, which allows young musicians from the CRR to share the podium with the Orchestra's professionals. Each season, this partnership is also enriched by concerts given by the Orchestra's musicians in the Conservatoire Auditorium. These events offer a special moment of closeness with the public and fully participate in the musical life of the city, in a spirit of transmission, influence, and openness.

The Six

Conservatoire Régional de Montpellier

At the center of the program is Schubert's essential Quintet , nicknamed "The Trout": a lively and sparkling work, where each instrument interacts with the others, blending virtuosity and lightness. Other musical gems will enrich a program where the musical exchange and the complicity of the performers are fully deployed.

In unison

Le Corum

Created in 1948 in Los Angeles before hitting Broadway, Magdalena blends the codes of the American musical with sounds inspired by South American traditions. Set in Colombia, on the banks of the Magdalena River, the plot immerses the viewer in a Colombian village plagued by corruption: the arrival of a foreign engineer upsets the fragile balance between local traditions, religious power, and political issues. The rich and colorful score reflects composer Villa-Lobos's ambition to fuse musical cultures. While the work was warmly acclaimed at its premiere in the United States, it remains rarely performed. Opéra Junior is reviving it this season, in a version revisited and adapted for its young performers. A rare opportunity to discover a committed, moving, and spectacular work, driven by the enthusiasm and freshness of youth.

Magdalena

A masterclass is a special moment during which young artists in training work with a major figure in the musical world. It is a space for exchange, transmission, and generosity, where we witness the work of interpretation in real time. Through the guidance of a great performer, a true sharing of experience takes place: young talents grow, refine their style, and push their limits to enhance their interpretation.

Justin Taylor Masterclass

True to its mission of promoting and raising awareness of classical music, the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie travels across the Occitanie region in various formations.

Jazz Spirit Quartet

Tauriac-de-Camarès

Harpsichordist Justin Taylor will offer a suspended moment around Chopin, echoing the literary voice of Léonor de Récondo, writer and violinist, whose unique journey opens a sensitive dialogue with the composer's universe. Her new novel, Marcher dans tes pas, was published by L'Iconoclaste in 2025. An inspired evening, at the crossroads of imagination.