Organization

Les Nuits de Fourvière

Singer

Isabelle Candelier

Madame Jourdain

Pascal Rénéric

Monsieur Jourdain

Leslie Menu

Lucile

Bass

Jean-Noël Brouté

Le Maître tailleur, Covielle

Mezzo-soprano

Julien Campani

Le Maître de musique, Dorante

Manon Combes

Nicole

Bénédicte Guilbert

Dorimène

Francis Leplay

Le Maître de philosophie

Nicolas Orlando

Le Maître d'armes

Stage director (+1)

Laurent Podalydès

Un laquais

Actor

Léo Reynaud

Un laquais, Danseur, Le Petit Mufti

Thibault Vinçon

Le Maître de danse, Cléonte

Stage director

Denis Podalydès

Conductor

Cellist (+4)

Christophe Coin

Lighting designer

Stéphanie Daniel

Costume designer

Set designer (+2)

Christian Lacroix

Set designer

Stage director (+4)

Eric Ruf

Choreographer

Choreographer (+1)

Kaori Ito

Opéra Royal de Versailles

Orchestra

Les solistes de l'Ensemble La Révérence

Opéra Royal

In The Bourgeois Gentleman, Molière draws the portrait of an adventurer of the spirit having no other desire than to escape from his commoner condition to set foot on territories from which he is excluded… the discovery of a terra incognita which, by birth, is forbidden to him. Why make fun of Monsieur Jourdain? The bourgeois simply pride themselves on discovering what today we call “culture” and they get down to the vast project of living their dreams… And what does it matter if these dreams are those of a ridiculous man. By choosing to restore the play to its original form of a comedy-ballet set to music by Lully, Denis Podalydès brings together all the arts. With this costume theater party by Christian Lacroix, he is aiming for this apotheosis of the senses so longed for by his hero interpreted by Pascal Rénéric. It is obviously about laughing at comedy. But, how not to have tenderness for this man without quality who tries to initiate on his own the first cultural revolution. Raised after a thousand comic adventures to the rank of "Mamamouchi", Monsieur Jourdain lives his hour of glory in music and dance, sick of his bourgeoisie, imaginary gentleman, both granted and beaten, duped and triumphant, in this rare theatrical moment where ridicule gives way to pure wonder.

Here is a monument, which celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2020, and whose strength remains intact because the skillful writing of Molière still manages to hang us today from the lips of this bourgeois. Christophe Coin and Denis Podalydès take on this classic and offer a production full of humor and lightness.

Fraincis