A strange meeting of minds between Gounod and Molière, between the 19^th and 17^th centuries: a jarring mix of style, of rhythm, of atmosphere, of music and theatre.

This comic opera by Gounod is much more than a reworking of Le Medecin malgré lui ; the spoken dialogues are word for word those of Molière. Sganarelle is a wood cutter who, contrary to his wishes, becomes a doctor (and when all is said and done, is quite comfortable in the role); he prescribes here a dose of baroque medicine whose key words are laughter and drunken revel, by Léandre in love, Lucinde, Valère the servant and his Master Geronte. Sandrine Anglade, whose career reveals a rare talent for performances that mix genres, stages this joyful blend of music and theatre.

The music of Gounod is ravishing and manages to reinvent theatre: “What spirit and verve in this little masterpiece! […] It is at times like Lully, at times like Rameau, with exquisite inspirations from the best of Mozart” published the Menestrel the morning after the work was first performed in 1872 at the Opera Comique. Like Molière’s play, it is burlesque, madcap, light and yet profound, grating yet moving.

Pascal Verrot, an ardent advocate of such musical and theatrical adventures, directs the troupe of singers-actors along with his Picardie Orchestra.

In order to make this opera more easily accessible to youngsters age 12 and up, one of the performances will be scheduled for 6 p.m. with specially priced tickets.

Musical Direction  Pascal Verrot
Stage Direction Sandrine Anglade
Assistanteto the stage director Madeleine Mainier
Artistic and movement collaborator Pascaline Verrier
Sets and costumes Claude Chestier,
Lights Éric Blosse

Vocal directors Emmanuel Olivier, Hélène Lucas
Pianists Chloé Ghisalberti, Ivan Couëffé
Vocal coach Françoise Pollet
Stage coach Nita Klein
Coordination of action scenes François Rostain
Musicologue Joël-Marie Fauquet
Administrator Unité scénique - Fondation Royaumont
Catherine Huet

With
Olivier Naveau Sganarelle
Marie-Paule Bonnemason Martine
Sevan Manoukian Lucinde
Olivier Hernandez Léandre,
Bertrand Bontoux Géronte
Julien Picard Lucas
Joëlle Charlier Jacqueline
Sacha Michon Valère
Thierry Mettetal Monsieur Robert

The Picardie Orchestra

Thanks to : ARCAL (Compagnie nationale de théâtre lyrique et musical)
Sets built buy Dijon Opera in collaboration with Dijon Bourgogne Theater - CDN.

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER

 Discussion with Sandrine Anglade and Pascal Verrot following the performance.

WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER at 5 p.m. 

Advance-performance for children.