John Corigliano's 'The Ghosts of Versailles' Premieres in France at Opéra Royal

John Corigliano's opera 'The Ghosts of Versailles' was performed at the Opéra Royal in Versailles from December 4 to 8, 2019, marking the 250th anniversary of the theater. This was the French premiere of the work, which had its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1991. The opera, with a libretto by William M. Hoffman, blends historical reconstruction and thriller elements, based on Beaumarchais' 'La Mère coupable'. It features ghosts of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, and the court, who are bored in purgatory, while Beaumarchais attempts to rewrite history to save the queen. Corigliano's polystylistic approach combines references to Rossini, Mozart, and Oum Kalthoum, with a reduced orchestration from the original MET version. The production was directed by Jay Lesenger, with costumes by Nancy Leary. Performers included Ben Schaefer as Figaro and Yelena Dyachek as Marie Antoinette. Corigliano, a Pulitzer Prize winner and Oscar recipient for 'The Red Violin', remains relatively unknown in France despite his international acclaim.