A new staging of Rameau’s Les Indes galantes combines exquisite 18th century music with the expressive potency of contemporary street dance styles in a one-of-a-kind exploration of identity, culture and expression. Co-conceived by director-choreographer and French hip hop pioneer Bintou Dembélé and conductor Leonardo García-Alarcón, the performance features their respective ensembles: the dancers of Structure Rualité, Namur Chamber Choir, and period orchestra Cappella Mediterranea, all making their UK opera debuts. Cappella Mediterranea is one of the most in-demand period ensembles in the world, having recently completed a Monteverdi cycle for the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, as well as engagements at the Opéra national de Paris, Salzburg Easter Festival, La Monnaie (Brussels), and Staatsoper Unter den Linden (Berlin). The production will also feature leading Baroque soloists Gwendoline Blondeel, Ana Quintans, Antonin Rondepierre and Andreas Wolf.

One of the most beautiful baroque opera-ballets ever composed, this is a rare chance to see Rameau’s musical masterpiece, in a carefully crafted new version which will also be performed at Teatro Real (Madrid) and Teatro alla Scala (Milan) among others. Be prepared to be swept away by powerful storytelling as this ornate period score fuses with the emotive physicality of street dance and hip hop styles, with electrifying and deeply moving results.

Les Indes galantes

The Grange at Northington

“ Here we find two forms of love: the unconditional love of a mother for her daughter, and the passionate and transgressive love of Pluto, ready to do anything to abduct Proserpine, even defy Jupiter. But Proserpine has no say in the matter: her fate is sealed without her consent, torn between her mother and her husband, six months on Earth, six months in the Underworld.
After its premiere in Vienna and Versailles, returning to Beaune is a bit like Proserpine's return to Earth: a familiar place, a long history with the festival, and a natural affinity with Lully, whose works we have often performed here. Proserpine fits perfectly into this complete cycle of Lully's music that we have been pursuing for years. The work possesses a striking dramatic intensity: the abduction, the sublime lamentations, Jupiter's descent, and a unique moment when a character suddenly loses the ability to speak under the influence of a spell.” A pure marvel of simplicity and emotion, typical of Lully. And then, it's also an opportunity to reunite with the Namur Chamber Choir and perform on their home turf… A beautiful musical and human adventure awaits .

Namur Chamber Choir

Jun 30 - Jul 2, 2025

Les Indes galantes

Jun 17 - Jul 5, 2025

Proserpine

Namur Chamber Choir