Grand Théâtre de Genève: Eight Years of Avant-Garde Opera Direction by Jean-Marie Blanchard
Éditions la Baconnière has launched a new book celebrating Jean-Marie Blanchard's significant eight-year tenure as the director of the Grand Théâtre de Genève. It highlights his unique blend of classic and contemporary works. Before this, Blanchard led opera houses in Paris and Nancy. He worked with renowned artists like conductor Armin Jordan and directors including Olivier Py and Yannis Kokkos. The book discusses various productions such as Py's fresh take on Weber's Freischütz and Porras's magical Die Zauberflöte, alongside revivals of lesser-known operas like Braunfels's 1920 Die Vögel, which sold out by its third performance. Each season also featured new compositions from notable composers, with additional writings by Franck Mallet included.
Key facts
- Jean-Marie Blanchard directed Grand Théâtre de Genève for eight years.
- Blanchard previously worked at Opéra Bastille and in Nancy.
- Collaborators included Armin Jordan, Olivier Py, Yannis Kokkos, Nicolas Brieger, Pierre Strosser, and Paul Cox.
- Paul Cox designed sets for Casse-noisette and Petrouchka ballets.
- Productions included Weber's Freischütz (directed by Olivier Py) and Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (directed by Omar Porras).
- Walter Braunfels's 1920 opera Die Vögel was revived and sold out by the third performance.
- New commissions included works by Heiner Goebbels, Xavier Dayer, Michaël Levinas, Jacques Lenot, and Michaël Jarrell.
- The publication is from Éditions la Baconnière and includes texts by Franck Mallet.
Entities
Artists
- Jean-Marie Blanchard
- Armin Jordan
- Olivier Py
- Yannis Kokkos
- Nicolas Brieger
- Pierre Strosser
- Paul Cox
- Omar Porras
- Heiner Goebbels
- Xavier Dayer
- Michaël Levinas
- Jacques Lenot
- Michaël Jarrell
- Walter Braunfels
- Franck Mallet
Institutions
- Grand Théâtre de Genève
- Éditions la Baconnière
- Opéra Bastille
Locations
- Geneva
- Switzerland
- Paris
- France
- Nancy
Sources
- artpress —