Le Villi

Based on a fantastical subject, Puccini, fresh out of the Conservatory, wrote his first opera. GIACOMO PUCCINI The Villi are evil nymphs who take revenge on an unfaithful lover. These figures from Scandinavian mythology already appear in the ballet Giselle. Based on this fantastical subject, Puccini, fresh out of the Conservatory, wrote his first opera. He entered a competition organized by a Milanese publisher. He did not win, but his work attracted Ricordi’s attention, and Ricordi commissioned his second opera. With the support of Boito, Verdi’s librettist, Le Villi was performed at another theater in Milan and was a success. Its ultimate recognition came when Mahler and then Toscanini conducted the opera. In the role of Anna, we will see Alexandra Marcellier, who moved all of Marseille to tears in Madame Butterfly, and the excellent Thomas Bettinger, who sang Pinkerton. Alongside them is the indestructible Marseille baritone Marc Scoffoni. OPERA-BALLET IN TWO ACTS Libretto by Ferdinando FONTANA First performed in Milan, Teatro Dal Verme, May 31, 1884 Marseille Opera premiere NEW PRODUCTION Co-production Opéra de Marseille / Opéra Nice Côte-d’Azur / Opéra Grand Avignon / Opéra Toulon Provence Méditerranée Music direction Paolo ARRIVABENI Direction, sets, costumes, lighting & choreography Stefano PODA Artistic collaboration Paolo GIANI Anna Alexandra MARCELLIER Roberto Thomas BETTINGER Guglielmo Marc SCOFFONI Orchestra and Chorus of the Marseille Opera Vibrating vest system for the Sunday, November 15 performance, by reservation