Jean-Philippe Rameau: Samson (Festival d'Aix-en-Provence)

A stately, intellectually ambitious staging that feels like a scholarly resurrection, rewarding patience with moments of austere beauty and historical poignancy.

Directed by

Claus Guth, Corentin Leconte

Genres

Music, History

Starring

Jarett Ott, Jacquelyn Stucker, Lea Desandre

Overview

When, in 1733, Voltaire, the most brilliant mind of his day, collaborates with Rameau, its greatest composer, in undertaking an ambitious reform of operatic practice, the result is the biblical opera Samson. But the libretto is condemned and the score lost – possibly reworked here and there in later compositions. Claus Guth and Raphaël Pichon, haunted by this interesting project that had turned into one of the most intriguing failures in operatic history, have tried, not to recreate the letter, but to revive the spirit: to marry a strong, noble libretto with the most eloquent music.

How it feels

Earnest, melancholic, dark and uplifting. Measured and demanding.

About

Art, faith, power, betrayal

Content

Mild violence and sexual content. No gore or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)