Schedule of events - Opéra de Lille

A member of Le Balcon, creator of unconventional operas, bold arranger of classical works, and a staunch advocate of musical adventures in uncharted territories, Arthur Lavandier began a cycle of "legends" in 2022—short pieces for mezzo-soprano and trombone, and for baritone and cello. He continues this cycle with three new pieces where soprano and harp soar to new heights. The second part of the program features frenzied lyres, with a composition for ensemble performed by the conservatory class led by soloist Clara Izambert, also a member of Le Balcon. This concert is thus crafted with complete synergy, offering a fresh perspective on this instrument favored by the gods…

SOLOISTS OF LE BALCON  
Parveen Savart, soprano  
Clara Izambert, harp  
And the students of the harp class from the regional conservatory of Amiens  

Arthur Lavandier  
Three Legends, for soprano and harp  
World premiere of a composition for harp ensemble  

DURATION: 1 hour

From a bird’s-eye view, elevated and afar, one can see things much more clearly, catching the free flow of sounds between different Black communities of the Maghreb, where the aesthetics of Morocco’s Gnawas meet Tunisia’s stambeli. A musical and humanist project, *Birds* soars like a dream journey above the contemporary world, guided by Tunisian violinist Zied Zouari, accompanied by bassist Leïla Soldevila and cellist Clémence Mebsout. This string trio vibrates with the power of Sufi rhythm and the spirituality of maqām, gracefully breaking free from cultural and musical genres and clichés.

Zied Zouari, violin  
Clémence Mebsout, cello  
Leïla Soldevila, double bass  

Original compositions by Zied Zouari  

DURATION: 1 hour

All the elements come together in this recital, where composers on either side of the English Channel respond to each other through water and air. From Fauré, a selection of "Venetian" melodies of rarely equaled refinement. Aquatic pleasures are complemented by Britten's earthy Winter Words and Folksongs, along with the airy flights of Boulanger's Cantique and Gounod's Le Rossignol. Winner of the Wigmore Hall International Song Competition and guest soloist with Ensemble Pygmalion, British tenor Laurence Kilsby brings elegance, precision, and dramatic power to these timeless melodies, supported by the attentive and virtuosic piano of Simon Lepper. This promises to kindle some truly beautiful fires!

Laurence Kilsby, tenor  
Simon Lepper, piano  

Songs by Benjamin Britten, Nadia Boulanger,  
Gabriel Fauré, and Charles Gounod  

DURATION: 1 hour

An isolated country in the mountains, idyllic, ideal, gentle, peaceful, inhabited by happy shepherds, laughing and singing... There is no unhappy Arcadia! The homeland of the god Pan, this dreamed enclave of the Greek classics, also finds expression in music, naturally paired with the enchanted flute of the mischievous protector of shepherds and their flocks. In a program of trios without bass, two flutes engage in dialogue with the violin, following the inspirations of composers—whether passionate or pastoral, serious or sensual. From Couperin to Debussy, many have brought this little paradise to life in music. An odyssey to the celestial heights of a humanity that has finally learned to live in peace.

SOLOISTS OF LE CONCERT D’ASTRÉE  
Sébastien Marq, recorder  
Nicolas Flodrops, traverso  
Clémence Schaming, violin  

Pieces by Arthur Benjamin, Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, François Couperin, Claude Debussy,  
Antoine Dornel, Jacob van Eyck, Johann Mattheson, and Georg Philipp Telemann  

DURATION: 1 hour

At the Opéra de Lille, Alexandre Duhamel was seen as Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande. Now, alongside pianist Alphonse Cemin, he lends his powerful voice to the ingenious hidalgo Don Quixote and his faithful squire Sancho Panza. Unconventional, extraordinary, unique, and foundational—Cervantes' characters seem almost tailor-made for opera and song. From Ibert to Ravel, from Massenet to Brel, this recital takes the form of a musical epic, where the syncopations of a drinking song adorned by Paul Morand are tinged with an Iberian vibration, and where the ever-delayed disappearance of the legend is affirmed—as the gentleman from La Mancha reminds us: "If all the books have killed me, it takes just one for me to live..."

Alexandre Duhamel, baritone-bass  
Alphonse Cemin, piano  

Arias and melodies by Jacques Ibert, Jules Massenet, Maurice Ravel  
Songs by Jacques Brel  

In partnership with Le Balcon  

DURATION: 1 hour

Atine, in Persian, means "united" but also "unprecedented." These two words perfectly capture the meeting of five musicians from different backgrounds, each bringing her own uniqueness to Persian classical and popular music. This diversity has allowed them to develop a repertoire where rearranged Iranian songs meet Arabic tradition and flamenco, where jazz blends with baroque, and where percussion and qanun mix with the viola da gamba. A carefully balanced blend that preserves the essence of tradition—"neither Westernization, nor reimagining, nor subversion"—but rather a modern, committed way of keeping Persian music alive.

ATINE
Aïda Nosrat, vocals  
Sogol Mirzaei, tar  
Christine Zayed, qanun  
Marie-Suzanne de Loye, viola da gamba  
Saghar Khadem, percussion  

DURATION: 1 hour

Bringing lyrical art out of its usual patterns, breaking free from its ruts, and opening it to diversity while showcasing performers who bring fresh energy—this is the enlightened vision of Africa Lyric’s Opera. Launched in 2007 by the international solidarity organization Women of Africa, this initiative identifies, supports, and guides young operatic talents of African and Afro-descendant origin. Newly crowned laureates of this international competition will pour all their energy into a program that honors the beauties of the operatic repertoire, while infusing it with touches of gospel, American music, and a few surprises along the way.

WINNERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN GRAND OPERA VOICES COMPETITION 2024
Yolisa Ngwexana, 1st Prize and Audience Prize (soprano)  
Milan McCray, 2nd Prize (soprano)  
Kofi Taylor-Hayford, 3rd Prize (bass)  
Thomas Tacquet, piano  

Arias and duets from operas, traditional songs  

DURATION: 1 hour

Kindred spirits, a convergence of ideas, harmony… Between the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, three composers from the 20th and 21st centuries respond to each other and create a unique lineage. Bridging European writing and an "American sound," Caroline Shaw delves into her musical memories for "a journey on familiar paths that always promises more discoveries." Meanwhile, Joséphine Stephenson brings to life the spirit of two Franco-British poets. A concert of shared stories and humanity, led by Fiona McGown and the I Giardini collective, virtuoso performers of these repertoires and dedicatees of two of these works.

Fiona McGown, mezzo-soprano

I GIARDINI
Hugo Meder, violin
Shuichi Okada, violin
Léa Hennino, viola
Pauline Buet, cello
David Violi, piano

Instrumental pieces and melodies by Amy Beach,
Caroline Shaw, and Joséphine Stephenson

As part of the 2nd Là-Haut Biennale

DURATION: 1 hour

In response to the Romeo and Juliet ballet, which will be performed in the Grande Salle at the end of the season, the accomplished chamber musicians—violinist Wibert Aerts and pianist Jean-Michel Dayez—invite you to explore a more intimate side of Prokofiev, whose boldness and innovations align with those of his contemporary Ravel. These two sonatas successfully inhabit ancient forms with an original and distinctly modern language. The French composer integrates elements of jazz and blues into the classical form, while exploring the virtuosic heights of the violin in his dazzling Tzigane. About a decade later, the Russian composer unveils the full range of his expressive power to convey the turmoil of World War II, "like the wind blowing through a cemetery..."

Wibert Aerts, violin
Jean-Michel Dayez, piano

Sonatas by Sergei Prokofiev and Maurice Ravel

DURATION: 1 hour