Photo : Conservatoire Nadia et Lili Boulanger - crée avec l'aide de Microsoft IA (Copilot)
RUY BLAS by Victor Hugo
Love, power, ambition, and revolt run through Ruy Blas, a masterpiece of romantic theater. Through a proposal mixing theatrical performance and music, the students explore the multiple dimensions of this iconic work and invite the public to rediscover Victor Hugo's passionate writing from a sensitive and lively perspective.
Maison de Victor Hugo (Paris 4th)
Part of the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatory Events programme
About
Students from the theater and S2TMD terminale cycles take over the Valeyre Library and the Maison Victor Hugo for an encounter between theater and music around Ruy Blas, one of Victor Hugo's great romantic dramas.
Created in 1838, Ruy Blas is part of the movement of theatrical renewal led by Victor Hugo. After the famous battle of Hernani, romantic theater sought to break free from classical rules to mix registers, passions, and historical and political issues.
The action takes place in Spain at the end of the 17th century, at the court of Charles II. Hugo recounts the meteoric rise of Ruy Blas, a common man in love with the queen, whom his master pushes to become the instrument of a vendetta. Behind the passionate plot, Hugo questions power relations and makes the voice of a despised people heard, in a work that blends love, ambition, tragedy, and poetic breath.
For this show, the theater students engage in dialogue with the traverso students from Johanne Favre-Engel's class. The sounds of this historical instrument punctuate the speech and create a dialogue between music and theater.
Coordination: Elsa Saladin-Benattar
Our take on this event
Experience the intensity of Hugo's classic drama reimagined through a unique dialogue between spoken word and period-accurate woodwinds. It is an immersive opportunity to witness legendary forbidden love and political betrayal brought to life by rising performers in an intimate, atmospheric setting.
Experience Victor Hugo’s romantic drama Ruy Blas through a unique performance blending theater and music. Students from the theater and S2TMD cycles, coordinated by Elsa Saladin-Benattar, bring this 1838 classic to life at the Maison de Victor Hugo in the 4th arrondissement. Accompanied by the historical sounds of the traverso flute from Johanne Favre-Engel’s class, the performance explores themes of power, love, and ambition. This event is free and fully inclusive, featuring specific adaptations for wheelchair users, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing—including sign language—as well as those who are blind, visually impaired, or living with cognitive disabilities.
Set within the walls of the Maison de Victor Hugo, this production revisits the Spanish court of Charles II. The narrative follows the rapid rise of Ruy Blas, a man of the people caught in a web of vengeance and forbidden love for the Queen. By mixing dramatic prose with the distinct tones of the traverso flute, the student ensemble offers a contemporary perspective on Hugo’s challenge to classical theater conventions.
The performances take place on Thursday, 25 February 2027, from 19:00 to 20:00, and on Saturday, 27 February 2027, from 18:30 to 19:30. Attendance is free for all visitors. The artistic coordination is managed by Elsa Saladin-Benattar.
Accessibility is a priority for this production. The venue is equipped to welcome wheelchair users and provides dedicated support for attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing, including sign language integration. Furthermore, the event is tailored to accommodate individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have cognitive disabilities, ensuring a welcoming experience for everyone.
