Name: Don Carlos (French version)
Start: 1996-02-27T00:00:00.000Z
End: 1996-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Théâtre du Châtelet

Organization

Stage director

Luc Bondy

Set designer

Gilles Aillaud

Costume designer

Moidele Bickel

Conductor

Antonio Pappano

Lighting designer

Vinicio Cheli

Choreographer

Lucinda Childs

Chorus master

Andrea Giorgi

Singer

Tenor

Roberto Alagna

Don Carlos

Baritone

Thomas Hampson

Marquis of Posa

Soprano

Karita Mattila

Elizabeth of Valois

Bass

José van Dam

Philip II

Mezzo-soprano

Waltraud Meier

Princess Eboli

Eric Halfvarson

The Grand Inquisitor

Csaba Airizer

A monk

Anat Efraty

Thibault

Donna Brown

Heavenly Voice

Scot Weir

The Count of Lerma

Théâtre du Châtelet

Others

Choeur du Théâtre du Châtelet

Orchestra

Orchestre de Paris

Don Carlos (French version)

Paris

France

Intricate and beautiful musical storytelling are at the core of Don Carlos, Verdi’s operatic interpretation of the doomed love story of Elisabeth de Valois and Don Carlos, Infante of Spain. Luc Bondy’s 1996 French-language production featured a cast of true all-stars, with Roberto Alagna (Don Carlos), Thomas Hampson (Rodrigue), Karita Mattila (Elisabeth de Valois), and Sir Antonio Pappano at the head of the Orchestre de Paris.

Based on Friedrich Schiller’s eponymous play, Verdi’s opera Don Carlos was inspired by real historical events of the mid-16th century: as part of a peace treaty between the Houses of Habsburg and Valois, Elisabeth of Valois was required to marry King Philip II of Spain, abruptly cancelling her previous betrothal to Philip’s son, Carlos. Originally composed on a French libretto and premiered in Paris' Salle Le Peletier in 1867, the opera would see success only in a shortened version translated into Italian and premiered in London later that same year. This 1996 production at the Théâtre du Châtelet represented one of the recent revivals of the opera in the original French, and was celebrated for its exemplary cast and elegant staging.

Colorful and elaborate: the furnishings and costumes in Luc Bondy's Paris staging are the perfect match for Verdi's Grand Opéra, which features several tragic heroes. The VIP cast of singers know how to make the most of the large stage, singing and acting with real dramatic depth.

Don Carlos Verdi

Public

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading