Opéra

At home and on the road

The 2023-2024 opera season is open to everyone. It encompasses the great classics while also presenting some contemporary creations at the Opéra de Marseille and other locations around the Var. 

By Mathilde Hingray

The new season at the Opéra de Marseille brings a young orchestra conductor from Milan, Michele Spotti, who is much-admired and seen as the best of his generation. He replaces Lawrence Foster at a venue renowned for its eclectic programme. The final work by Giacomo Meyerbeer and a fervent argument against slavery, L’Africaine opened the season. Other great classics including La Traviata and Attila by Verdi and Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro will follow. The fifteen-part tragic farce by Maurice Ohana – Autodafé – will be performed in late November. The work is a combination of Medieval polyphonia, blues, Andalusian cante jondo, opera, and more. The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár will round off the year, harking back to the joyful days of Viennese operetta. To encourage creativity and support new and emerging artists, the opera also gives carte blanche to the Centre national de création musicale, with three unique events.

The Opéra de Toulon on the move

Since its regular home is closed for building works, the Opéra de Toulon has taken to the road, presenting performances in various venues* around the Var. And the 2023-2024 season will cover an extremely varied repertoire. The surprises include Rigoletto by Verdi, an intense drama whose composer probes the torments of the soul, which will be performed in October at the Zénith. The Zénith will also host Johann Strauss II’s operetta Die Fledermaus over the festive season, bringing a dynamic and extraordinary musical experience to the rhythm of various waltzes.