BEMF Opera | 2016 Chamber Opera Series
VERSAILLES: Portrait of a Royal Domain
Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 8PM
Sunday, November 27, 2016 at 3PM
New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall
Monday, November 28, 2016 at 7:30PM
Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 7:30PM
The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY
The GRAMMY Award–winning BEMF Chamber Opera Series returns with an all-new production inspired by the splendor and music of the palace of Versailles. King Louis XIV transformed his father’s pastoral hunting lodge at Versailles into a lavish palace that served as the seat of government and culture in France. Enjoy a musical feast from the height of the Sun King’s reign with two chamber operas—Charpentier’s Les Plaisirs de Versailles and Lalande’s Les Fontaines de Versailles—exalting the splendor and majesty of the palace and its gardens, alongside divertissements from Lully’s Atys—called the “King’s Opera” for the favor it enjoyed with Louis XIV. The refined elegance and expressive drama is brought to life by the all-star BEMF Vocal and Chamber Ensembles in a magnificent production featuring gorgeous costumes, Baroque dance, and sumptuous staging.
Produced in partnership with the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles.
This production was reprised at the June 2019 Festival.
Production Video
Production Photos
Critical Acclaim
“If Louis XIV enjoyed performances of this caliber, he was a lucky man.”
“Vivacious… a successful pastiche.”
Behind-The-Scenes Video
Directors
Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs, Musical Directors
Gilbert Blin, Stage Director
Carlos Fittante, Choreographer
Anna Watkins, Costume Designer
Robert Mealy, Concertmaster
Kathleen Fay, Executive Producer
Artists
Boston Early Music Festival Vocal Ensemble
Mireille Asselin, Jesse Blumberg, Olivier Laquerre, Mireille Lebel, Jason McStoots, Oliver Mercer, Sophie Michaux, Molly Netter, Aaron Sheehan, Margot Rood, John Taylor Ward & Virginia Warnken
Boston Early Music Festival Dance Company
Melinda Sullivan, Dance Director
Carlos Fittante
Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble
Robert Mealy, Cynthia Roberts, Sarah Darling, Laura Jeppesen, Phoebe Carrai, Gonzalo X. Ruiz, Kathryn Montoya, Marilyn Boenau, Michael Sponseller, Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs
