Opera
Bastarda
For better, for worse...
The hardest thing to govern is the heart.— Elizabeth I Tudor
Elizabeth is two years old when her father, Henry VIII, orders the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn. The heir to the throne becomes a bastard and will remain so in the eyes of her opponents, even when the weight of the English crown rests on her shoulders. Consequently, retaining power requires sacrifice: personal happiness must give way to political interest and intimate feelings to state affairs. Especially when her great rival Mary Stuart appears on the scene, bringing about a clash of queens.
In this first part of Bastarda, La Monnaie revives the childhood and early reign of Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603) in all its glory. Prepare for the musical highlights of Gaetano Donizetti's Tudor tetralogy, breathtaking costumes and historically informed props, dance and video, grand entrances and tragic exits. A unique total spectacle, which our workshops have been working on for years.
SEE BASTARDA - PART II
Magazine
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OperaWho's who?
At Tudor Court
In preparation for Bastarda, we present the historical figures featured in this production. Learn about the Tudors and the members of their court from portraits of our cast taken at La Monnaie, accompanied by a short biography.
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OperaThere once was... Bastarda
Olivier Fredj
In Bastarda there is room for only one queen: the mythical Elizabeth I of England. Inspired by a childlike sense of wonder, director Olivier Fredj reshapes La Monnaie into the court of ‘The Virgin Queen’. In this interview, he reflects on his particular form of storytelling.
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OperaThe story of Bastarda
First evening: ‘For Better, for Worse...’
The first part of Bastarda focuses on the life of young Elizabeth: from her childhood, marked by the tragic death of her mother Anne Boleyn, through her unexpected coronation to the ultimate confrontation with her cousin and rival Mary Stuart. Read the synopsis here.
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OperaThe Glamour and the Labour
The costumes for Bastarda
When creating an opera production, nothing is left to chance. Literally everything has to be thought through, every character, every movement, every note, every colour or detail. The dazzling costumes for Bastarda are the latest proof that such a creation process takes an enormous amount of time, care and deliberation. An interview with designer Petra Reinhardt and Regine Becker, head of the La Monnaie costume department.
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OperaThe face of Elizabeth
A comparative reflection on two iconic queens
The preparation of our production Bastarda, centred on the character of Elizabeth I, coincided with a renewed focus on the British monarchy, illustrated by series such as The Crown, Wolf Hall or The Tudors. The historic event of the death of Elizabeth II proved that many people today share the fascination that Gaetano Donizetti must have felt in his time for her predecessor and namesake Elizabeth I. In this article, we reflect on the obvious and not so obvious links between these two queens in history and popular culture.
Gallery
Dates & Tickets
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Sat 25 Mar 2023
Time
19:00
Venue
SOLD OUT -
Tue 28 Mar 2023
Time
19:00
Venue
SOLD OUT -
Sat 01 Apr 2023
Time
15:00
Venue
SOLD OUT -
Tue 04 Apr 2023
Time
19:00
Venue
Last tickets -
Tue 11 Apr 2023
Time
19:00
Venue
Last tickets -
Sat 15 Apr 2023
Time
15:00
Venue
SOLD OUT
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Tue 21 Mar 2023
Time
19:00
Venue
Cast
Conductor & Musical arrangementsFRANCESCO LANZILLOTTA Artistic concept, Script & DirectionOLIVIER FREDJ Adaptation & DialogueYANN APPERRY & OLIVIER FREDJ
Set design & LightingURS SCHÖNEBAUM CostumesPETRA REINHARDT VideoSARAH DERENDINGER ChoreographyAVSHALOM POLLAK Artistic collaborationCECILIA LIGORIO DramaturgyMARIE MERGEAY Chorus masterGIULIO MAGNANINI
ElisabettaMYRTÒ PAPATANASIU
FRANCESCA SASSU (21.3, 1.4) Anna BolenaSALOME JICIA LeicesterENEA SCALA EnricoLUCA TITTOTO Giovanna Seymour & SaraRAFFAELLA LUPINACCI Amy RobsartVALENTINA MASTRANGELO Maria StuardaLENNEKE RUITEN Roberto DevereuxSERGEY ROMANOVSKY NottinghamBRUNO TADDIA
SmetonDAVID HANSEN CecilGAVAN RING Elisabetta childNEHIR HASRET (21, 23.03 & 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 13.04),
HADLEY DEAN RANDERSON (25, 28, 30.03 & 8, 15, 16.04)
La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra
La Monnaie Choral Academy, led by Benoît Giaux
ProductionLA MONNAIE With support fromNATIONAL LOTTERY
In co-production with Shelter Prod and Prospero MM Productions, with the support of Taxshelter.be and ING
With the support of the Belgian Federal Government's Tax Shelter
