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Orpheus
Experience the haunting depths of the Orpheus myth, reborn through a stunning collaboration between Gluck’s timeless structure and Berlioz’s lush, romantic orchestrations. This production strips back the artifice to focus on pure human emotion, anchored by world-class performances that make this ancient tale of loss and music feel remarkably present.
Théâtre des Champs Elysées (Paris 8th)
About
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées presents a compelling revival of the Orpheus myth from April 20 to April 29, 2027. This production explores the nineteenth-century version adapted by Berlioz for Pauline Viardot, brought to life by conductor Speranza Scappucci and the period-instrument ensemble Les Siècles. With staging by Ted Huffman and performances by Marie-Nicole Lemieux and Lauranne Oliva, this operatic allegory offers a profound look at intimacy and music. Suitable for audiences from 10 years old, the performance takes place in the 8th arrondissement. It is a ticketed event, with various performance times available throughout the specified dates to suit your schedule.
Orpheus is the founding myth of opera history. Monteverdi was the first to bring it to life, and Gluck would compose two versions: one in Italian (where the role of Orfeo was played by a castrato) and then one in French (by a tenor), before Berlioz gave it a new vocal and orchestral coat. Gluck’s versions shocked the Enlightenment Europe but suffered over time from numerous adaptations and corrections. At the end of the 1850s, Berlioz was entrusted with the task of reworking the piece to adapt it for Pauline Viardot, a singing star of the time renowned for her vocal range, transitioning easily from contralto to soprano. Berlioz kept the French score but transposed the tenor voice into a range suitable for Pauline Viardot and harmonized the keys, notably to adapt them to the instruments of his era.
It is this 19th-century version that Speranza Scappucci and Les Siècles offer us, an ensemble specialized in historically informed performance and well-versed in the Berlioz repertoire. To stage this allegory of music and poetry, the American director Ted Huffman, recently appointed director of the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, will use his sense of purity to probe the depths of this intimate drama. And who better than an artist of the “caliber” of Marie-Nicole Lemieux to elevate this operatic myth, alongside the young Lauranne Oliva, already courted by all the great European stages.
Our take on this event
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées hosts a rare opportunity to experience the Orpheus myth through the lens of Berlioz's nineteenth-century adaptation. Originally reworked to suit the vocal range of the legendary Pauline Viardot, this version highlights the evolution of a foundational operatic story. The musical direction is led by Speranza Scappucci, accompanied by the acclaimed ensemble Les Siècles, which specializes in historically informed performances to ensure an authentic orchestral texture.
Ted Huffman, the current director of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, directs this production, focusing on a minimalist aesthetic to emphasize the emotional core of the narrative. The lead roles are performed by Marie-Nicole Lemieux and the rising star Lauranne Oliva. This event is open to attendees from age 10 and above who are interested in a sophisticated exploration of lyrical art.
The show runs at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on the following schedule: Tuesday, April 20 (19:30–21:00), Friday, April 23 (19:30–21:00), Sunday, April 25 (20:00–21:30), Tuesday, April 27 (19:00–20:30), and Thursday, April 29 (15:00–16:30). Please be aware that this is a ticketed event.
