An elegant production, skilfully combining the physical and mental spaces of an ordinary woman forced to commit an act that is not.
Emmanuelle Giuliani, la croix
The set design remains effective right to the end, particularly in terms of the renewal of what is shown or hidden from the viewer by the interplay of a Californian blind.
Pierre Gervasoni, Le Monde
Richard Brunel’s staging is pure, with grey tones recreating the anonymity of office life, with occasional use of video to project the monologue of Nicola Beller Carbone, a German mezzo-soprano who convincingly embodies the distress of a woman driven to violence.
Romaric Gergorin, Classica
“Otages”, premiered as one of the productions in the Opéra national de Lyon festival, is a great show. The direction of the actors, sharp and skilful, makes a significant contribution to its success.
Yannick Boussaert, Forumopera
Stéphan Zimmerli’s set is sober and effective. Laurent Castaing’s skilful use of light completes this simple but effective vision of a story focused entirely on its dramatic finale. Matthieu Trappler’s costumes are also highly significant.
Hélène Adam, Cult.news
On stage, the production is effective and visually very accomplished, skilfully playing between the real scenes and the projections in closed rooms that always delimit the closed-door environment that suffocates Sylvie.
Philippe-Alexandre Pham, Classique News
The modernity of the themes in this production, as well as the effectiveness of its interpretation and staging, are to be commended and credited to an innovative and seductive season.
Hélène Adam, Cult.news
Without pause, for an hour and 15 minutes, the story unfolds, drawing the audience right to its violent, liberating conclusion.
Philippe-Alexandre Pham, Classique News
The audience applauds with warmth and emotion this hard-hitting opera, which lasts just over an hour and is over in a flash.
Joël Heuillon, Olyrix
Inspired musical composition. We appreciate the richness and originality of this score.
Hélène Adam, Cult.news
Hostages
Sebastian Rivas
Libretto from the composer based on a play by Nina Bouraoui
Opera in 3 acts – 2024
Music direction Rut Schereiner
Stage direction Richard Brunel
Set design Stephan Zimmerli
Lighting design Laurent Castaingt
Costumes design, Mathieu Trappler
Vidéo design Yann Philippe
Dramaturgy Catherine Ailloud-Nicolas
Stage assistant Alex Crestey
Composition assistant Fabrice Gouin
Computer music engineer Alexei Nadzharov
cast
Nicola Beller-Carbone
Ivan Ludlow
Musical Ensemble
Juliette Adam
Lise Baudouin
Irène Blanc-Rocher
Mélanie Brégant
Faustine Charles
Camille Coello
Bera Romairone
Beltane Ruiz Molina
Yi-Ping Yang
World Premiere
Coproduction
GRAME, CNCM-Lyon, Opéra de Lyon as part of the Biennale des Musiques Exploratoires and the of Lyon Opera Festival 2024 in co-realisation with Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse and Comédie de Valence – Centre dramatique national Drôme-Ardèche.
With the patronage of the Fondation François Jerez, housed by the Fondation de France, and Aline Foriel-Destezet, major donor of the Lyon Opera Festival 24.