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Supernatural Nights at the Monte Carlo Opera
2012-02-10 13:40
What:
Monte Carlo Opera
Where:
Salle Garnier and other venues
When: November 2011 to April 2012
Tickets: €40 to €150 per performance, with season tickets available
Reservations: +377 98 06 28 28 (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm)
The Opéra de Monte Carlo, one of the world's most prestigious companies, whose home in the resplendent
Opera House is no less legendary, are about to commence their new season with an eclectic but hugely exciting mixture of major works based on legendary dramas - with a strong whiff of the supernatural.
Much admired by Toscanini,
Mefistofele - Arrigo Boito's take on Goethe's story of Faust and his pact with the devil - is considered one of modern Italy's most beautiful works for the operatic stage. Making full use of the Grimaldi Forum's superb technical facilities, this thrilling opera kicks off the new season during the celebratory week of the
Fête Nationale Monégasque. (Please note that this opera will be performed at the Grimaldi Forum.)
Ravel's magical
L'Enfant et les Sortileges - The Child and the Spells - continues the theme, with the tale of a child whose bedroom transforms itself into a phantasmagorical forest of magical plants and creatures. And the season concludes in April with Verdi's
Macbeth, based on Shakespeare's famous play about the murderous king whose fate is determined by the power of witchcraft.
In between these works are two historical dramas, that of
Francesca da Rimini, a tale of thwarted love set in 13th century Italy, and Tchaikovsky's
Mazeppa, based on the bloodthirsty story of the 18th century Ukrainian general who rebelled against the Tsar, Peter the Great.
Tickets
Most individual performances are priced at €40 to €150 depending on the day, but tickets for the opening opera, Mefistofele, are even better value at €25 to €110. Season tickets are also available starting at €195 for all five matinees to between €260 and €650 for all seven evening performances.
And don't forget that for a real night out, the first performance of each opera is a
gala evening. Again, season tickets are available for these black-tie occasions at between €355 and €930.
Programme
November 2011
Sunday 13 November at 3pm: Mefistofele (at the Grimaldi Forum)
Wednesday 16 November at 8pm: Mefistofele (at the Grimaldi Forum)
December 2011
Friday 9 December at 8pm: Prima Donna
Saturday 10 December at 8pm: Prima Donna
January 2012
Friday 20 January at 8pm: L'Enfant et les Sortileges & La Navarraise (gala)
Sunday 22 January at 3pm: L'Enfant et les Sortileges & La Navarraise
Wednesday 25 January at 8pm: L'Enfant et les Sortileges & La Navarraise
Friday 27 January at 8pm: L'Enfant et les Sortileges & La Navarraise
February 2012
Friday 17 February at 8pm: Mazeppa (gala performance)
Sunday 19 February at 3pm: Mazeppa
Wednesday 22 February at 8pm: Mazeppa
Friday 24 February at 8pm: Mazeppa
March 2012
Thursday 15 March at 8pm: Francesca da Rimini (gala)
Saturday 17 March at 8pm: Elina Garanča in Concert at the Auditorium Rainier III
Sunday 18 March at 3pm: Francesca da Rimini
Tuesday 20 March at 8pm: Francesca da Rimini
Friday 23 March at 8pm: Francesca da Rimini
April 2012
Friday 20 April at 8pm: Verdi's Macbeth (gala performance)
Sunday 22 April at 3pm: Verdi's Macbeth
Wednesday 25 April at 8pm: Verdi's Macbeth
Saturday 28 April at 8pm: Verdi's Macbeth