L’Olimpiade

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris, France

All photos (1)

Select date and time

7:30 PM

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Important Info

Type: Opera

City: Paris, France

Starts at: 19:30

Intervals: 1

Duration: 3h

Sung in: Italian

Titles in: French,English

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

Overview

The energy of Vivaldi aficionado Jean-Christophe Spinosi combined with Jakuk Józef Orliński’s vocal exercises and breakdancing will be a joyful celebration of the Olympian spring.

L’Olimpiade was premiered in Venice in 1734 at the Teatro Sant’Angelo, with a libretto by the poet Metastasio based on Herodotus. It was an immediate and resounding success. It is set near the town of Olympia on the day of the games, but the libretto is primarily a vehicle for an abundance of melodies in which betrayal of friendship and thwarted love jostle for position. It is one of Vivaldi’s finest works, in which the ever-fresh musical writing takes full advantage of the wide array of dramatic situations. Arias expressing the affetti of the souls of the various characters are outstanding and are set to music in an extremely rich and highly-coloured melodic style. Under the baton of Jean-Christophe Spinosi, a master of Vivaldi, we can enjoy the experience of rediscovering an athletic Jakuk Józef Orliński, who is equally at home with vocal exercises and breakdancing. In these impromptu Olympics, who will emerge as the victor of the choral games?

Production Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
Ce projet a reçu le label Olympiade Culturelle.

History

Premiere of this production: 17 February 1734, Teatro Sant'Angelo, Venice

L'Olimpiade (The Olympiad) is a dramma per musica in three acts that was composed by Antonio Vivaldi. The opera uses an Italian libretto by Pietro Metastasio that was originally written for Antonio Caldara's 1733 opera of the same name. Vivaldi's version premiered in Venice at the Teatro Sant'Angelo on 17 February 1734. The same libretto was to be later set to music by over 50 other composers, starting from Giovanni Battista Pergolesi in 1735.

Synopsis

Act 1
Megacles arrives in Sicyon just in time to enter the Olympic Games under the name of Lycidas, a friend who once saved his life. Unknown to Megacles, Lycidas is in love with Aristaea, whose hand is to be offered to the winner of the games by her father, King Cleisthenes. Lycidas, once betrothed to Princess Argene of Crete, is unaware that Megacles and Aristaea already love each other, and he subsequently tells his friend of the prize. Aristaea and Megacles greet each other fondly, but Megacles now feels bound by his promise to compete as Lycidas. Meanwhile, Argene arrives in Olympia disguised as a shepherdess, to win back Lycidas.

Act 2
Megacles wins the games, confesses the truth to Aristaea and departs, broken-hearted. When Lycidas comes to claim her, Aristaea reproaches him, as does the disguised Argene, much to his dismay. Amyntas, tutor to Lycidas, reports that Megacles has drowned himself, and King Cleisthenes, apprised of the deception, banishes Lycidas.

Act 3
Argene prevents the desperate Aristaea from suicide, Megacles is rescued by a fisherman, and Lycidas contemplates the assassination of the king. Aristaea pleads mercy for Lycidas and Argene offers herself in his place; as proof that she is a princess, she shows Cleisthenes a chain given her by Lycidas. He recognizes it as belonging to his son, abandoned in infancy to forestall the prophecy that he would kill his father. Lycidas, reinstated, accepts Argene, leaving his sister to Megacles.

Venue Info

Théâtre des Champs-Elysées - Paris
15 Avenue Montaigne

The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is an entertainment venue situated near Avenue des Champs-Élysées, from which it takes its name. Its eponymous main hall may seat up to 1,905 people.

Commissioned by impresario Gabriel Astruc, the theatre was built from 1911 to 1913 upon the designs of brothers Auguste Perret and Gustave Perret following a scheme by Henry van de Velde, and became the first example of Art Deco architecture in the city. Less than two months after its inauguration, the Théâtre hosted the world premiere of the Ballets Russes' Rite of Spring, which provoked one of the most famous classical music riots.

At present, the theatre shows about three staged opera productions a year, mostly baroque or chamber works more suited to the modest size of its stage and orchestra pit. It also houses an important concert season. It is the home venue of the Orchestre National de France and the Orchestre Lamoureux and serves as a French base for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra as well.

The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre des Champs-Élysées and Ensemble orchestral de Paris play most of their concerts here too, along with other dance, chamber music, recital, and pop events.

Important Info

Type: Opera

City: Paris, France

Starts at: 19:30

Intervals: 1

Duration: 3h

Sung in: Italian

Titles in: French,English

Masterclasse : Jan Versweyveld le mercredi

Opera National de Paris - Paris

15 May 2019, Wed, 7 PM

Semele