Details

A young boy argues with his mother, refuses to do his homework and flies into a tantrum, destroying the objects in the room around him. But in this childhood fable of enchantment, everything around the boy comes magically to life. Outside in the garden, he is also shunned by the animals and plants he has tormented and hurt, until he is forgiven after helping an injured squirrel. One of only two short operas composed by Ravel, L'enfant et les sortileges is both a delightful, whimsical fantasy and a profoundly moving response to the generational trauma of war, witnessed by both composer and librettist. Its exquisite, innovative score is filled with jewel-like surprises, perfectly capturing and deftly characterising talking animals and magical nursery furniture alike. Finish time: 20:40 and 20:25. Sung in French with English supertitles.

Cast/Performers

Danielle de Niese (Child), Elodie Mechain (Mother / Chinese Cup / Dragonfly), Etienne Dupuis (Grandfather Clock / Tom Cat), Lionel Lhote (Armchair / Tree), Julie Pasturaud (Chair / Bat), Sabine Devieilhe (Fire / Princess / Nightingale), Hanna Hipp (Cat / Squirrel), Francois Piolino (Arithmetic) / Frog)

Creatives/Company

Music: Ravel (1925)
Lyrics: Colette
Producer: Glyndebourne Opera
Conductor: Robin Ticciati
Director: Laurent Pelly
Design: Barbara de Limburg
Costume: Laurent Pelly (in collaboration with Jean Jacques Delmotte)
Lighting: Joel Adam
Company(s): London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Glyndebourne Chorus