Le Balcon

Opera

Commissioned by Aix-en-Provence Festival

Description

Premiere: 5 July 2002, Aix-en-Provence, France
Ensemble Intercontemporain
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Director: Stanislas Nordey

Opera based on Jean Genet’s play
Libretto: Francoise Morvan, Peter Eötvös and André Markovitz
Language: French

Peter Eötvös was searching for a text for an opera in which the action onstage would literally explode. His search led him to an ideal work: Jean Genet’s stage play Le Balcon, which had received its ﬁrst performance in London in 1957 and presented a blend of different levels of play-acting and reality. Here, everything is a game: not only the ‚real‘ revolution, but also the life depicted in the salons of the brothel; ultimately a masquerade and a suspension and negation of reality. The music also plays with different levels of reality. At one point, double bass, clarinet, horn, trumpet and the violinist playing the straw ﬁddle leave their customary places in the orchestra and join in the action onstage as human props. Eötvös considers the close connection between language and music as essential and therefore demands that performances of this opera are given in French with surtitles. Genet‘s linguistic subtleties are translated into shimmering, colourful music: we hear allusions to French chansons of the 1950s interwoven with Baroque representational music with serialistic and minimalistic elements producing a tonal impression skilfully evocative of the surreal parallel world of the Balcon.

What I found most important was that Genet’s wonderfully frivolous and poetic language remained comprehendible. This explains why I utilised numerous grotesque and comic elements of cabaret music. On occasions, my music steers very close to the world of French chansons with Fréhel, Jaques Brel, Yves Montand and Leo Ferré as my ‘models’.

/Peter Eötvös/

Synopsis

Inside Le Grand Balcon Madame Irma´s bordello. Outside, the clamour of a revolt can be heard.

Part One.
I. The Bishop slowly puts his civilian clothes back on, pays Madame Irma and takes his time leaving the bordello. He has just played out a scene of benediction and confession with one of the prostitutes (the Woman) and, having asked if he may stay a while longer in solitude, contemplates his own image.

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II. The Judge tries to extract a confession from the Female-Thief in the presence of the Executioner; but in this game of domination, the roles become reversed and the accuser is willing to grovel at the feet of the accused.
III. Irma introduces a prostitute to the General. The prostitute helps the soldier put on his uniform and then becomes his mount. The General straddles her and as he rides he dreams of his own glorious death to the sound of the Funeral March.
IV. Irma settles up with Carmen and does not hide her true feelings from her. For her part, amid the danger of the revolt, the young prostitute reaffirms her loyalty to the brothel.
V. Arthur, the Executioner, has just ended his session and Irma sends him off to find the Chief of Police whom everyone is waiting for.
VI. The Chief of Police who had in fact arrived earlier, announces that the revolt has spread. Irma reminds him of their former love and evokes how her relationship with Arthur, her pimp, has not managed to erase the memory. When the latter returns out of breath from his errand he is hit by a stray bullet from outside.

Part Two.
VII. Irma brings in the musicians and then the Court Emissary, who makes allusions to the possibility that the Queen is dead. A terrific explosion outside seems to have destroyed the Royal Palace: The Emissary then bows down before Irma.
VIII. The Bishop, the Judge, the General, then the Hero (the Chief of Police) and the Queen (Irma) appear on the balcony. In the shadows, Chantal and Roger declare their love for each other. Roger, a regular at the bordello is also leader of the insurgents, Chantal, a former prostitute has become the muse of the revolution. A crowd comes to find her so that she may sing after the attack on the Royal Palace; but she is hit by a bullet the very moment that she is presented to the Queen.
IX. The Bishop, the Judge and the General are gathered together for a photo session. The Chief of Police affirms before the Queen and the Court Emissary that victory is now in his hands.
X. Everyone is invited to discover the reward that the Queen has set aside for him: a new salon, a Mausoleum, in which Carmen makes Roger play out the role of the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police thus finds himself consecrated in the brothel, but the former insurgent, devastated that the revolt has failed, pretends to castrate himself. Finally, accompanied by the sound of machine-gun fire, the Queen dismisses everyone. Becoming Madame Irma once again, she turns off the lights of her establishment and retires until the following day.

Performances

17 Apr, 2015

Lille, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Opera de Lille
Le Balcon Ensemble
Staging: Damien Bigourdan
costume: Pascale Lavandler
light: Jérémie Gaston-Raoul
conductor: Maxime Pascal

Cast: Virgile Ancely, Guillaume Andrieux, Florent Baffi, Elise Chauvin, Olivier Coiffet, Rodrigo Ferreira, Shigeko Hata, Laura Holm, Benjamin Locher, Jean-Claude Saragosse, Vincent Vantyghem

17 Feb, 2015

Opera de Lille

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Le Balcon Ensemble
February 17, 2015

Staging: Damien Bigourdan
Costume: Pascale Lavandler
Light: Jérémie Gaston-Raoul
Conductor: Maxime Pascal

Cast:
Virgile Ancely
Guillaume Andrieux
Florent Baffi
Elise Chauvin
Olivier Coiffet
Rodrigo Ferreira
Shigeko Hata
Laura Holm
Benjamin Locher
Jean-Claude Saragosse
Vincent Vantyghem

22 Nov, 2014

Paris, France

Eötvös: Steine, Duo from "Le Balcon", Octet plus, Sonata per sei

Ensemble Intercontemporain
Conductor: Peter Eötvös

24 May, 2014

Paris, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Le Balcon Ensemble
Conductor: Maxime Pascal
Staging: Damien Bigourdan
Costume: Pascale Lavandler
Light: Jérémie Gaston-Raoul

Cast:
Virgile Ancely
Guillaume Andrieux
Florent Baffi
Elise Chauvin
Olivier Coiffet
Rodrigo Ferreira
Shigeko Hata
Laura Holm
Benjamin Locher
Jean-Claude Saragosse
Vincent Vantyghem

Venue: Athénée Théatre Louis-Jovet

23 May, 2014

Paris, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Le Balcon Ensemble
Conductor: Maxime Pascal
Staging: Damien Bigourdan
Costume: Pascale Lavandler
Light: Jérémie Gaston-Raoul

Cast:
Virgile Ancely
Guillaume Andrieux
Florent Baffi
Elise Chauvin
Olivier Coiffet
Rodrigo Ferreira
Shigeko Hata
Laura Holm
Benjamin Locher
Jean-Claude Saragosse
Vincent Vantyghem

Venue: Athénée Théatre Louis-Jovet

21 May, 2014

Paris, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Le Balcon Ensemble
Conductor: Maxime Pascal
Staging: Damien Bigourdan
Costume: Pascale Lavandler
Light: Jérémie Gaston-Raoul

Cast:
Virgile Ancely
Guillaume Andrieux
Florent Baffi
Elise Chauvin
Olivier Coiffet
Rodrigo Ferreira
Shigeko Hata
Laura Holm
Benjamin Locher
Jean-Claude Saragosse
Vincent Vantyghem

Venue: Athénée Théatre Louis-Jovet

20 May, 2014

Paris, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Le Balcon Ensemble
Conductor: Maxime Pascal
Staging: Damien Bigourdan
Costume: Pascale Lavandler
Light: Jérémie Gaston-Raoul

Cast:
Virgile Ancely
Guillaume Andrieux
Florent Baffi
Elise Chauvin
Olivier Coiffet
Rodrigo Ferreira
Shigeko Hata
Laura Holm
Benjamin Locher
Jean-Claude Saragosse
Vincent Vantyghem

Venue: Athénée Théatre Louis-Jovet

27 Nov, 2009

Bordeaux, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Opéra National de Bordeaux

Orchestre National Bordeaux
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan
Staging: Gerd Heinz
Scene and costume: Stefanie Seitz
Light: Eric Blosse

Cast:
Irma / La Reine: Maria Riccarda Wesseling
Carmen: Melody Louledjian
La Femme / La Voleuse / La Fille / Chantal: Magdalena Ana Hofman
L'Eveque: Jacques Schwarz
Le Juge: Julius Best
Le General: Armand Arapian
Le Chef de la Police: Jean-Manuel Candenot
L'Envoyé de la Cour: GNigel Smith
Roger: Thomas Dolié
Arthur / Le bourreau: Till Fechner

23 Nov, 2009

Bordeaux, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Opéra National de Bordeaux

Orchestre National Bordeaux
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan
Staging: Gerd Heinz
Scene and costume: Stefanie Seitz
Light: Eric Blosse

22 Nov, 2009

Bordeaux, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Opéra National de Bordeaux

Orchestre National Bordeaux
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan
Staging: Gerd Heinz
Scene and costume: Stefanie Seitz
Light: Eric Blosse

20 Nov, 2009

Bordeaux, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Opéra National de Bordeaux

Orchestre National Bordeaux
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan
Staging: Gerd Heinz
Scene and costume: Stefanie Seitz
Light: Eric Blosse

19 Oct, 2005

Museumquartier, Halle E, Vienna

Eötvös: Le Balcon - Austrian premiere

NEUE OPER WIEN
19, 21, 23, 25 October, 2005

Amadeus Ensemble-Wien
Conductor: Walter Kobéra
Staging: Stephan Bruckmeier
Scene and costume: Christof Cremer
Light: Norbert Chmel

Cast:
Irma / La Reine: Anna Clare Hauf
Carmen: Jowita Sip
La Femme/La Voleuse /La Fille /Chantal: Maida Karisik
L'Eveque: Liviu Burz
Le Juge: Gemot Heinrich
Le General: Dieter Kschwendt-Michel
Le Chef de la Police: Robert Rosenkranz
L'Envoyé de la Cour: Andreas Jankowitsch
Roger: Bartolo Musil
Arthur / Le bourreau: Stefan Cerny

4 Apr, 2005

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Miskolc Symphony Orch. - chamber orch.
Conductor: Peter Eötvös, Laszlo Kovács
Staging: Robert Alföldi
Scene: Kentaur
Costume: Edit Zeke

Cast:
Irma / La Reine: Katalin Várkonyi
Carmen: Szilvia Rálik
La Femme: Viktória Kiss
La Voleuse: Erika Gál
La Fille: Eszter Sára Kövári
Chantal: Apollónia Szolnoki
L'Eveque: András Hábetler
Le Juge: Péter Drucker
Le General: Kázmér Sárkány
Le Chef de la Police: Péter Fried
L'Envoyé de la Cour: Attila Bardóczy
Roger: Péter Novák
Arthur / Le bourreau: Szilveszter P. Szabó

Festival Theatre Budapest, MÜPA

3 Apr, 2005

Budapest, Hungary

Eötvös: Le Balcon - Hungarian premiere

Miskolc Symphony Orch. - chamber orch.
Conductor: Peter Eötvös, Laszlo Kovács
Staging: Robert Alföldi
Scene: Kentaur
Costume: Edit Zeke

Festival Theatre Budapest, MÜPA

30 Jan, 2005

Besancon, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Opera Théatre Besancon

Conductor: Stéphane Petitjean
Staging: Jean-Marc Foret
Scene and costume: Pierre Albert
Light: Hervé Gary

Cast:
Irma / La Reine: Élena Gabouri
La Femme, La Voleuse, La Fille, Chantal: Karen Vourc'h
L'Eveque: Jean-Jacques Cubaynes
Le Juge: Guy Flechter
Le General: Armand Arapian
Carmen: Kathouna Gadelia
Le Chef de la Police: Hugues Georges
L'Envoyé de la Cour: Alan Corbishley
Roger: Marc Mauillon
Arthur / Le bourreau: Vladimir Stojanovic

28 Jan, 2005

Besancon, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Opera Théatre Besancon

Conductor: Stéphane Petitjean
Staging: Jean-Marc Foret
Scene and costume: Pierre Albert
Light: Hervé Gary

25 Jan, 2004

Toulouse, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse

Aix-en-Provence production
Stage director: Stanislas Nordey
Ensemble Intercontemporain
Conductor: Peter Eötvös

Casting:
Irma / La Reine: Hilary Summers
La Femme, La Voleuse, La Fille, Chantal: Allison Cook
Carmen: Morenike Fadayomi
L'Eveque: Csaba Airizer
Le Juge: Julius Best
Le General: Armand Arapian
Le Chef de la Police: Harry Peeters
L'Envoyé de la Cour: Marcos Pujol
Roger: Arnaud Marzorati
Arthur / le bourreau: Jerome Varnier

24 Jan, 2004

Toulouse, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse

Aix-en-Provence production
Stage director: Stanislas Nordey
Ensemble Intercontemporain
Conductor: Peter Eötvös

22 Jan, 2004

Toulouse, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse

Aix-en-Provence production
Stage director: Stanislas Nordey
Ensemble Intercontemporain
Conductor: Peter Eötvös

21 Jan, 2004

Toulouse, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse

Aix-en-Provence production
Stage director: Stanislas Nordey
Ensemble Intercontemporain
Conductor: Peter Eötvös

29 Jun, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

Casting:
Der Bischof: Dariusz Niemirowicz
Der Richter: Julius Best
Der General: Wolfgang Newerla
Der Henker / Arthur: Diogenes Randes
Der Polizeichef: Neal Schwantes
Roger: Gregor Dalal
Der Gesandte des Hofes: Gerardo Garciacano
Irma / Die Königin: Buenaventura Braunstein
Carmen: Inge Bidlingmaier
Die Frau / Die Diebin / Das Mädchen / Chantal: Ursula Eittinger
Revolutionäre / Fotografen: Frederik Baldus, Florent Gabriau, Mark Kessler

22 Jun, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

9 Jun, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

8 Jun, 2003

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Aix-en-Provence production
Stage director: Stanislas Nordey
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Ensemble Intercontemporain

Casting:
L'Eveque: Csaba Airizer
Irma / La Reine: Hilary Summers
La Femme, La Voleuse, La Fille, Chantal: Allison Cook
Le Juge: Julius Best
Le General: Armand Arapian
Carmen: Morenike Fadayomi
Le Chef de la Police: Harry Peeters
L'Envoyé de la Cour: Marcos Pujol
Roger: Arnaud Marzorati

Muziektheatre Amsterdam

6 Jun, 2003

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Aix-en-Provence production
Stage director: Stanislas Nordey
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Ensemble Intercontemporain

Muziektheatre Amsterdam

5 Jun, 2003

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Eötvös: Le Balcon - Dutch premiere

Aix-en-Provence production
Stage director: Stanislas Nordey
Conductor: Peter Eötvös
Ensemble Intercontemporain

Muziektheatre Amsterdam

1 Jun, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

24 May, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

21 May, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

8 May, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

6 May, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

3 May, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

26 Apr, 2003

Freiburg, Germany

Eötvös: Le Balcon - German premiere

Regie/Stage director: Gerd Heinz
Bühne und Kostüme: Stefanie Seitz
Choreografie: Dagmar Opsölder
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Conductor: Kwamé Ryan

13 Jul, 2002

Aix-en-Provence, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Aix-en-Provence Festival 2002

Theatre de l'Archeveché

Direction musicale: Peter Eötvös
Mise en scène: Stanislas Nordey
Décors: Emmanuel Clolus
Costumes: Raoul Fernandez
Lumière: Stephanie Daniel
Collaboration artistique: Valérie Lang

Cast:
L'Eveque: Csaba Airizer
Irma / La Reine: Hilary Summers
La Femme, La Voleuse, La Fille, Chantal: Allison Cook
Arthur: Jerome Varnier
Le Juge: Julius Best
Le General: Armand Arapian
Carmen: Morenike Fadayomi
Le Chef de la Police: Harry Peeters
L'Envoyé de la Cour: Marcos Pujol
Roger: Arnaud Marzorati

Ensemble Intercontemporain

Video production: Bel Air Media

Realisation: Andy Sommer
1h46'
"Le Balcon" opera film
was awarded Grand Prix
of Golden Prague 2003

11 Jul, 2002

Aix-en-Provence, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Aix-en-Provence Festival 2002

Theatre de l'Archeveché

Direction musicale: Peter Eötvös
Mise en scène: Stanislas Nordey
Décors: Emmanuel Clolus
Costumes: Raoul Fernandez
Lumière: Stephanie Daniel
Collaboration artistique: Valérie Lang

Ensemble Intercontemporain

Video production: Bel Air Media

Realisation: Andy Sommer
1h46'
"Le Balcon" opera film
was awarded Grand Prix
of Golden Prague 2003

7 Jul, 2002

Aix-en-Provence, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon

Aix-en-Provence Festival 2002

Theatre de l'Archeveché

Direction musicale: Peter Eötvös
Mise en scène: Stanislas Nordey
Décors: Emmanuel Clolus
Costumes: Raoul Fernandez
Lumière: Stephanie Daniel
Collaboration artistique: Valérie Lang

Ensemble Intercontemporain

Video production: Bel Air Media

Realisation: Andy Sommer
1h46'
"Le Balcon" opera film
was awarded Grand Prix
of Golden Prague 2003

5 Jul, 2002

Aix-en-Provence, France

Eötvös: Le Balcon - World premiere

Aix-en-Provence Festival 2002

Theatre de l'Archeveché

Direction musicale: Peter Eötvös
Mise en scène: Stanislas Nordey
Décors: Emmanuel Clolus
Costumes: Raoul Fernandez
Lumière: Stephanie Daniel
Collaboration artistique: Valérie Lang

Ensemble Intercontemporain

Video production: Bel Air Media

Realisation: Andy Sommer
1h46'
"Le Balcon" opera film
was awarded Grand Prix
of Golden Prague 2003

Details

Genre:

Opera - Music Theatre

Duration:

120 minutes

Date:

2001/2002

Publisher information

Schott Music Mainz

https://en.schott-music.com/shop/le-balcon-no222228.html

Cast

Irma / La Reine – alto
Carmen – soprano
La Femme / La Voleuse / La Fille / Chantal – mezzosoprano
Le Chef de la Police – bass-baryton
Roger – baryton
L’Eveque – basse
Le Juge – high tenor
Le Général – lyrical barytone
L’Envoyé de la Cour – barytone
Le Bourreau / Artur – basse
Un Révolté / Un photographe / L’Esclave – artiste

Orchestration

TITLE Dur. Soloists & choir fl ob cl bcl bn hn tpt tbn tba perc pf hp vn1 vn2 va vc db Other Tech

Le Balcon
Opera - Music Theatre 120' sop,mez,alt,ten,2bar,lyr bar,bbar,2bass,vn-stroh vn,cl,tpt,hn 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 sax,hammond amp

1 fl. (+picc.+alto), 1 ob. (Eng.Hn), 1 cl., 1 bcl., 1 bassoon, 1 sax. (sopr., alto, bar.), 1 horn, 2 tpt., 1 tbn., 1 tuba, 2 perc., hrp., org. Hammond, 1 vl., 1 vla., 1 vcl., 1 contrabass.
Solo instruments: 1 vl. (Strohviolin), cb.clar., tpt., horn

Technical information

__________________________________________

Sound material is available for download

here >

____________________________________________

Further information

A Balkon librettóját Jean Genet színműve alapján Francoise Morvan, André Markovitz és a zeneszerző írta. Az operát 2002 júliusában az Aix-en-Provence Fesztiválon mutatták be. Genet művét sem a hagyományos operai, sem a megelőző Eötvös-opera eszközeivel nem lehet hitelesen megközelíteni és előadni.

Különösen igaz ez a színészi játékra, mivel Genet szürreális, abszurd színháza nem teszi lehetővé az “emelkedett” operajátszást. Eötvös muzsikája mind zenei, mind technikai értelemben igen magas követelményt állít a szereplők elé, akiknek a zenei nehézségeken felülemelkedve, elsősorban mégiscsak színészként kell megközelíteniük szerepüket. Eötvös törekedett arra, hogy műve “franciás” legyen, és a játék “zenei miliője” illeszkedjen a megidézett korhoz és a helyszín, a bordély atmoszférájához. A groteszk cselekményhez, a kabaréba hajló harsány szinpadi játékhoz illő zenei stilust Eötvös végül a francia sanzon világában találta meg. Koncepciójának modelljét – miközben A Balkon egyáltalán nem tekinthető stílusimitációnak – Fréhel, Jacques Brel, Yves Montand, Leo Ferré zenéjében és előadói modorában kell keresnünk.
/Műsorkalauz, Budapest, 2005. Várnai Péter/

Read further...

Nach der fast “handlungslosen”, sehr emotionellen Tschechow-Oper “Drei Schwestern” habe ich einen Text gesucht, in dem die Bühnenaktionen “explodieren”. Bei Genet kann man dies wörtlich nehmen; auf den Straßen tobt die Revolution, das Palais-Royal wird in die Luft gejagt, während sich die Kunden in den speziell eingerichteten Salons des Bordells “Le Balcon” mit den Requisiten und Kostümen der wichtigsten gesellschaftlichen Funktionen verkleiden: Sie möchten Bischof, Richter oder General werden, und sei es nur für eine halbe Stunde. Die Mädchen helfen, und Madame kassiert das Geld für dieses zweifelhafte Vergnügen. Das Stück ist ein herrliches, ständig funkelndes Rollenspiel, ein Theater im Theater. Meine Musik “kleidet” sich manchmal auch in die “Manieren des französischen Stils”, aber das wichtigste war für mich, die wunderbar frivole, poetische Sprache von Genet verständlich bleiben zu lassen. Deswegen benutzte ich viele groteske, komödienhafte Kabarettmusik-Elemente, und manchmal kommt meine Musik in die Nähe des französischen Chansons: Fréhel, Jacques Brel, Yves Montand, Leo Ferré haben mir “Modell gestanden”. Aufgrund der starken Verbindung zwischen Sprache und Musik kann diese Oper nur in französischer Sprache (mit Untertiteln) aufgeführt werden.

/Peter Eötvös/