Schedule of events - Opéra de Lille

The lives of Clara and Robert Schumann were as much about love as they were about music: so many secrets exchanged, whispers, and words of love slipped into their scores... Conceived by Christian-Pierre La Marca with the collaboration of Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, this program revives their legendary romantic dialogue, connecting it to other romances of the "1810 generation," while also anchoring it in a new contemporary romanticism: "In an era where romantic encounters are governed by algorithms and apps, composers Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Fabien Waksman, Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, and Michelle Ross bring their own vision of love, infused with the culture of immediacy and digital connection."

Christian-Pierre La Marca, cello  
Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, piano  

Pieces by Johannes Brahms, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, Michelle Ross, Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, and Fabien Waksman  

DURATION: 1 hour

Perhaps because he was immersed from a young age in the repertoires of Algerian chaâbi and Arab-Andalusian music, he earned the nickname Ptit Moh. A child of traditional music, educated by the greatest music masters, Mohamed Abdennour has become a composer and performer of great maturity, a daring virtuoso of the mandole, the oud, and other string instruments. Embracing collaborations, he now blends his inspirations in a trio. By intertwining the migrations of Gypsy music, from India to Andalusia, with popular Maghreb, Eastern repertoires, and jazz, he generously invites us to open ourselves to the widest of horizons.

PTIT MOH PROJECT TRIO
Mohamed Abdennour, artistic direction, mandole  
Amrat Hussain, tablas  
Anaïs Laffon, violin  

In partnership with Les Rencontres Cosmophoniques de La 404

DURATION: 1 hour

Lineages, transmissions, inheritances... Whether between fathers and sons or between teachers and students, music is always passed down and perpetuated, while continuing to evolve from one generation to the next. This thread can be followed through a series of diptychs for violin and harpsichord in a program that reveals some family treasures, brought to life by the soloists of Le Concert d'Astrée. Unfamiliar sonatas by Leopold Mozart foreshadow the genius of his prodigy son, or the virtuosic lightness of Alessandro Scarlatti, known as the "Italian Orpheus," and his son Domenico. Not to mention the most famous of Baroque families: the monumental works of the father and son, Bach.

SOLOISTS OF LE CONCERT D’ASTRÉE
Christophe Robert, violin
Benoît Hartoin, harpsichord

Pieces by Johann Sebastian and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti, Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

DURATION: 1 hour

More than a thousand concerts played together over fifteen years, including over six hundred as a duo... This is what you call a long-lasting partnership! An artistic bond that accordionist Vincent Peirani and saxophonist Émile Parisien celebrate today in an abrazo that is as much a brotherly hug as a musical embrace. In their ever-renewed desire to play together, the two jazz musicians have crafted a concert that dances around the tango, drawing inspiration from the compositions of Astor Piazzolla and Tomás Gubitsch, as well as from covers and new creations. To resonate in unison and return to the soul of the tango, "its elegance, its melancholy, its rhythmic and melodic power."

Émile Parisien, soprano saxophone
Vincent Peirani, accordion

In partnership with Tourcoing Jazz

DURATION: 1 hour

Black slumbers and melancholy, surrender to dreams, to romantic torments, to the depths... This program brings together great musical moments as well as poetic ones, where the most talented composers of their time—Strauss, Schubert, Brahms, or Stravinsky—echo the inspirations of poetic luminaries like Heine, Goethe, or Verlaine. Laureates of the Orsay-Royaumont Academy dedicated to melody and lieder, baritone-bass Adrien Fournaison conceived it with his musical partner, pianist Natallia Yeliseyeva, to respond to the chiaroscuro of American painter Alexander Harrison. Boats in the twilight, swans gliding, solitudes at dusk, everything here reflects a "trembling image of happiness and doubt."

Adrien Fournaison - Baritone-Bass  
Natallia Yeliseyeva - Piano

Lieder and melodies by** Samuel Barber, Johannes Brahms, Gabriel Fauré, Ivor Gurney, Franz Liszt, Ben Moore, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, and Hugo Wolf

In partnership with the Fondation Royaumont

DURATION: 1 hour

A perfectionist in all things and an eminent music lover, Stanley Kubrick paid more attention to the soundtracks of his films than most. Moreover, he brought immense popularity to some rare gems of the repertoire by skillfully employing their evocative power—such as a Schubert trio in Barry Lyndon or a Shostakovich waltz in Eyes Wide Shut. He also introduced the brilliance of Ligeti to a wide audience. This synergy and complementarity between music and cinema, between one form of drama and another, are explored by the musicians of L’Instant Donné in a concert where images are bound to appear as a natural consequence—whether one keeps their eyes wide open or tightly shut.

L’INSTANT DONNÉ 
Saori Furukawa - Violin  
Elsa Balas - Viola  
Nicolas Carpentier - Cello  
Caroline Cren - Piano

Pieces by Dmitri Shostakovich, Saori Furukawa, Georg Friedrich Handel, György Ligeti, Franz Liszt, Krzysztof Penderecki, Gioachino Rossini, Franz Schubert, and Johann Strauss II

DURATION: 1 hour

Starting with Georg Friedrich Haas's Equinox, a piece that neither begins nor ends but simply continues, expands, and transforms, the soloists of Le Balcon offer an evening that transcends time, much like that rare moment when the duration of day equals that of night for all places on Earth's surface. A prominent figure in microtonal music, Haas unfolds a myriad of arpeggios that continually mutate to evoke unprecedented sensations. This work becomes alternately an exploration and a hymn, framed by Johannes Brahms's Four Serious Songs, a splendid and somber lieder cycle drawn from Ecclesiastes, Sirach, and the First Epistle to the Corinthians.

SOLOISTS OF LE BALCON
Damien Pass, baritone-bass
Iris Zerdoud, clarinet
Clotilde Lacroix, cello
Alphonse Cemin, piano

Instrumental pieces by Johannes Brahms, Georg Friedrich Haas,
and lieder by Johannes Brahms

DURATION: 1 hour

From Italy to England, from Germany to France, and even to Spain… What a buzz in 17th-century Baroque Europe! It is this exciting time of invention and exchange that is brought to life by contralto Anthea Pichanick and theorbo player Étienne Galletier, with pieces by Monteverdi, Purcell, Handel, Cavalli, and Charpentier. From melodies of enduring charm and poignant love laments to dramatic outbursts and obstinate bass lines, the performers happily contrast these with timeless songs from another era—by Reynaldo Hahn, Michel Legrand, and even Bourvil!—for a concert that breathes new life into the ever-burning embers of the most passionate fervor.

Anthea Pichanick, contralto  
Étienne Galletier, theorbo  

Songs and melodies by Juan Arañés, Bourvil, Francesco Cavalli, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Reynaldo Hahn,  
Georg Friedrich Handel, Stefano Landi, Michel Legrand, Claudio Monteverdi, Henry Purcell,  
Nancy Sinatra, Robert de Visée, and Antonio Vivaldi  

DURATION: 1 hour

In English, "puzzled" means "perplexed." But it can also be understood differently, as the movable piece of a puzzle, or as the self-definition of a pianist who happily fits into every setting. From classical to jazz, from composing for theater to songwriting, alongside Pierre Barouh, Archie Shepp, or Raphaël Imbert, Pierre-François Blanchard has always managed to find a place that is both unique and collaborative. This time, he blossoms in a project born from the solitude of confinement, transformed into a call to the community of minds. Accompanied by the clarinet of Thomas Savy, he blends classical influences, jazz, and early 20th-century French music for an introspective journey, alternating between joyful and contemplative moments.

Pierre-François Blanchard, piano  
Thomas Savy, clarinet  

In partnership with Tourcoing Jazz  

DURATION: 1 hour

As women's voices gain freedom, Sandra Nkaké has been among the first to raise hers. A powerful, vibrant, sensual, and soulful voice, awarded a Victoire du Jazz in 2012, which she now chooses to channel into the fight. One could not dream of a more beautiful weapon… For [ELLES], a recital in tribute to female singers and composers, she has carefully selected songs that have accompanied her life as a woman and musician: those of Joni Mitchell, Björk, Nina Simone, and more. Joined by flutist Jî Drû and cellist Paul Colomb, she offers an intimate, almost acoustic moment where groove serves the words, feelings, and raw emotion.

Sandra Nkaké, vocals, guitar  
Jî Drû, flute, vocals  
Paul Colomb, cello  

Songs by Jeanne Added, Björk, Laura Cahen, Joni Mitchell, and Nina Simone  

DURATION: 1 hour

A classic joke from 1781, a post-romantic passion concentrate from 1945, and a contemporary abduction: this is the thrilling program offered by the Quatuor Agate for this concert. Formed in 2016 and since a laureate of prestigious competitions, the quartet presents a dynamic range of works. In "The Joke" (Op. 33, No. 2), the illustrious Haydn delights in confounding his audience; he traps them and plays tricks on them... only to make them burst into laughter! Diving into the most ardent emotions, Korngold's String Quartet No. 3 marks the Austrian composer's brilliant return to "serious" music after his Hollywood successes. And between these two masterpieces, we will experience The Disappearance of Lisa Gherardini by Dinuk Wijeratne (2022), inspired by the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911. What intense emotions!

QUATUOR AGATE  
Adrien Jurkovic, violin  
Thomas Descamps, violin  
Raphaël Pagnon, viola  
Simon Iachemet, cello  

String quartets by Joseph Haydn,  
Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and Dinuk Wijeratne  

DURATION: 1 hour

In Crimean tradition, the plant known as yu an holds symbolic meaning: it is said to help one remember their own roots… The zillya, on the other hand, are medicinal herbs, remedies for the most cruel ailments… It is this dual emblem that the members of a trio, which proudly upholds the unity and heritage of two peoples, have chosen. Djemil Karikov and his daughter Nial Khalilova, from the long and painful history of the Crimean Tatars, were forced to leave their homeland in 2014. Emigrating to Lviv, they met Ukrainian singer Natalia Rybka-Parkhomenko and developed this project with her, which conveys emotions beyond borders and exile.

Djemil Karikov, saz  
Nial Khalilova, cello  
Natalia Rybka-Parkhomenko, vocals  

In partnership with Attacafa  
as part of the Le Temps d’une Lune #9 festival  

DURATION: 1 hour

Choosing "Gracias a la vida" as her anthem, mezzo-soprano Anne-Lise Polchlopek has lovingly crafted a program that spans various latitudes, times, and styles, reflecting the multifaceted nature of her musical personality. An "ideal" and diverse recital… "If part of my identity is Slavic, another part is more Mediterranean; my grandmother, a pieds-noirs, spoke to me in a French mixed with Spanish and Arabic words. With this heritage, I lived in Madrid… a journey without which I wouldn’t be a singer today," she explains, joyfully letting Fauré mingle with Messiaen, Chaminade tease Mozart, Giménez jest with Poulenc, and Reynaldo Hahn respond to Jacques Brel.

Anne-Lise Polchlopek, mezzo-soprano  
Pierre Laniau, guitar  
Federico Tibone, piano  

Songs and melodies by Pauline Viardot, Cécile Chaminade, Jacques Brel, Gabriel Fauré, Olivier Messiaen, Manuel de Falla, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gerónimo Giménez, Reynaldo Hahn, Maurice Ravel, Tomás Méndez, Francis Poulenc, Erik Satie, and Violeta Parra  

DURATION: 1 hour

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