From the Grand Théâtre de Provence, Dmitri Tcherniakov stages two of Gluck’s French operas in a single production where Iphigenia, the daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, engaged in war against the Trojans, alternates between victim (Iphigénie en Aulide, 1774) and executioner (Iphigénie en Tauride, 1779). Immersing the audience in a family home haunted by its dead, Tcherniakov highlights a process of dehumanization with contemporary echoes. Set in an endless cycle of violence, this gripping diptych is conducted by Emmanuelle Haïm and brought to life by American soprano Corinne Winters in the dual title role, alongside the finest talents of French opera.
From the Grand Théâtre de Provence, Dmitri Tcherniakov stages two of Gluck’s French operas in a single production where Iphigenia, the daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, engaged in war against the Trojans, alternates between victim (Iphigénie en Aulide, 1774) and executioner (Iphigénie en Tauride, 1779). Immersing the audience in a family home haunted by its dead, Tcherniakov highlights a process of dehumanization with contemporary echoes. Set in an endless cycle of violence, this gripping diptych is conducted by Emmanuelle Haïm and brought to life by American soprano Corinne Winters in the dual title role, alongside the finest talents of French opera.
About the composer…
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714–1787) was a composer who sought to reform opera by emphasizing emotional depth and dramatic integrity. Born in Bavaria, he studied in Prague and Milan, composing in the Italian opera seria style before seeking to refine and improve the style. His collaboration with librettist Ranieri de’ Calzabigi produced groundbreaking works like Orfeo ed Euridice and Alceste, which simplified operatic structures and prioritized storytelling. Gluck’s influence extended to French opera during his Paris years, with masterpieces like Iphigénie en Tauride in 1779. His innovations inspired later composers, earning him a lasting legacy as one of opera’s most transformative figures.
