The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir was once again invited to the renowned Aix-en-Provence opera festival, this time for Alban Berg’s opera Wozzeck conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, one of the world’s foremost conductors.
Alban Berg (1885–1935) completed Wozzeck, his opera in three acts in 1925. Festival d’Aix will stage five performances at the Grand Théâtre de Provence between 7 and 21 July. Simon McBurney, the English director, writer and actor was invited to stage it. Simon McBurney is held to be one of today’s most innovative and influential theatre directors. The international first-rate cast includes Christian Gerhaher, Malin Byström, Thomas Blondelle, Brindley Sherratt, Peter Hoare etc and is accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Before the premiere the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir will have three weeks of rehearsals on site allowing the singers to get to grips with both the music and the stage presence and movements.
The Managing Director of the EPCC Esper Linnamägi brings out that the rehearsal period is developing in a good inspiring atmosphere. „Two years ago we had a vocal role in the festival productions, but this year we have a possibility to combine our vocal quality also to the acting skills while working in the stage rehearsals.”
The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir has already been invited to the festival three times – in 2011, 2013 and 2021. In 2021 they participated in the world premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s opera Innocence. The festival values the Choir as a noted interpreter of contemporary music and the festival’s Director of Communications Jérôme Brunetière has said that the Choir has been invited then because of the quality performance that it guarantees.
The Festival d’Aix-en-Provence is held from 4 to 24 July this year. The festival has been gaining in popularity throughout its 75 years and become a summer must for opera lovers worldwide. With its artistic ideas and superb artists the festival offers a diverse programme of both operas and concerts and innovative stagings to surprise the audience.
Under the direction of Tõnu Kaljuste, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir gave a concert of Arvo Pärt’s music at Silvacane Abbey, La Roque-d’Anthéron.
More information: Festival d’Aix-en-Provence