Together with Angelo Smimmo and conductor Philip Walsh, Annemiek directed Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Menotti’s The Telephone at Lyrique-en-Mer International Opera Festival. As the closing season of its Artistic Director, Walsh invited Annemiek as a director after she assisted on Lucia di Lammermoor a couple of years ago. Bluebeard was a big hit at the festival’s first season and was therefore the perfect closing act.
The evening started with the lighthearted piece from Menotti where a man’s love declaration is interrupted by the woman’s phone, which was made into a modern retelling set in a dance hall with guest performances of the Young Artists.
For Bluebeard the mood completely changed into a mystical atmosphere as 7 veils lifted to created the backdrop for an unfolding mysterious relationship. Playing with abstract movements and distance and closeness, the place was de-constructed until a dreamy vision of the 3 ladies was revealed. Judith was the main character in this performance who stood up to a strong Bluebeard.
The show was a huge success and is currently considered for other opera houses and festivals in France and Italy.
Please find reviews below and see ‘Portfolio’ for further images.
https://www.olyrix.com/articles/production/7784/gian-carlo-menotti-et-bela-bartok-a-belle-ile-en-mer-article-critique-compte-rendu-aout-2024-le-telephone-ou-l-amour-a-trois-le-chateau-de-barbe-bleue-michael-bawtree-philip-walsh-annemiek-van-elst-angelo-smimmo-hewson-kelly-mostovoi-grollemund
https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/evenements/festival-lyrique-en-mer-du-2-au-16-aout-2024-7867162
Bluebeard’s Castle and The Telephone @ Lyrique en Mer
