The Eternel Feminine: The Trial

Set up like a court trial, this production is based around musical works concerning female archetypes such as Carmen, Marguerite in the opera Faust, the Virgin Mary, Norma, Salome, Scheherazade and many others. The attorney, incarnated by Charles Poncet, defends the myth of the Eternal Feminine or on the contrary presses charges against the fable, making parallels with famous modern trials that made a mark on public opinion and the press. Would Don José be acquitted today of Carmen’s murder as a justifiable crime of passion? Would Marguerite be indicted for infanticide? As for the Valkyries, would they have been accused of war crimes? Would the tone of the violin, the voice of the defendant, persuade the jury—musicians and audience—of the injustice meted out to the Eternal Feminine?

Programme

Schubert

Ave Maria

Rimski-Korsakov

Scheherazade

Courvoisier

For Alise

De Falla

Ritual Fire Dance

Fauré

Sicilienne from Pélléas and Mélisande

Gardel

Por una Cabeza

Bizet

Carmen

Wieniavski

Faust-Fantaisie

Wagner

Ride of the Valkyries

Ponce

Estrellita

Bellini

Casta Diva

Starring

• Isabelle Meyer
• Charles Poncet
• Benjamin Knobil
• Tobias Noss
• Maryline Musy
• Suzette Sandoz
• Atena Carte
• Francesco Bartoletti