Reviving the Rose, an opera to celebrate the centenary of the Villa Noye

Villa Noailles is 100 years old. In 1923, Charles and Marie Laure de Noy received a wedding gift of land on Casteau Hill overlooking the town of Hyères. To celebrate the anniversary of this manifesto of modern architecture envisioned by Robert Mallet-Stevens, this avant-garde debauchee where the artists Andre Gide, Jean Cocteau and Georges Auric were at home, the director of the villa, Jean-Pierre Blanc; the idea of ​​musical creation, among other tones.

The opera resurrect the rose whose title, in the style of Ronsard, borrowed from the poems of Marie-Laure de Noyet, was born from a conversation between the composer Raphael Lucas and Jean-Pierre Blanc in Sète. “History? It’s primarily the passion for music of Charles and Marie Laure de Noyer,” he recalls. They were part of a group of patrons. serenade traveled the world to listen to concerts. As for the Villa, it was the scene of a music festival, for example in 1932. Masked ball By Poulenc. Coincidence of life, Rafael Lucas, tells me at the coffee shop that he has already written two operas. For the villa’s centenary, why don’t we write a musical about the lives of Charles and Marie-Laure de Noyer? Everything happened really quickly. Barely a year and a half. It had to be financed. Patron Aline Fouriel-Destezet immediately said yes, as did the house of Chanel. We formed a group.” And what a group! Raphael Lucas for the composition, Vincent Huguet, the former assistant of Chereau who worked in international institutions such as the Bastille for the director and Simon Johannin, the favorite of the under thirty, the author of the novel. Summer of carrion, for the brochure. All three are young and from the south. Another local kid, Camelia Jordana, joined the adventure.

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History of the house

In a straw hat, shirt and Bermuda shorts, Vincent Huguet relaxes under a cedar tree in the cool bar of Villa Noailles. The first rehearsal with the Toulon Opera Orchestra is tonight at 7:30 p.m. “Delivering a new work perpetuates Noe’s spirit,” he says. The experiments here are extraordinary. This morning I had to move two umbrellas so that the singers would have shade. It was already 31 degrees. We can see Cape Medes east of Porquerolles Island. Suddenly birds fly in the sky. When we started the project, we said to ourselves: “the subject is the villa.” As in the novel One hundred years of solitude, we will tell the 100-year history of the house. It all begins with the love story of this couple who will break free from the life of rich aristocrats to become free-spirited patrons. Then, after the death of Marie-Laure, this place fell into disuse. It could disappear completely. But under the leadership of Jean-Pierre Blanc, it experienced a renaissance, becoming the center of this art, devoted to fashion and design, which shines. By saying this we are also telling a cycle. As in the theater, as in the opera, we seek catharsis. Act 1 is birth, Act 2, ghosts, death, Act 3, rebirth. The choice of staging is inspired by the location. Sports were very important there, with the first indoor swimming pool in France and bathing suits in every guest room. Everyone was in love with the gym teacher, starting with Gid. So I called a group of acrobats from Marseille who mix with opera singers. It’s a pot you don’t always find in opera.”

“We had to build a bridge between the late 19th century, early 20th century and today’s post-romantic music,” adds Raphael Lucas, also under the foliage of the trees. We imagined this opera as a journey through time and space. Jean-Pierre Blanc saw a musical. We thought of the idea of ​​having pop singers because the audience of the villa is young and immersed in modern urban culture. I immersed myself in the music of Noah’s era and performed. In today’s languages, I like electron. In addition, electronic music resembles classical music in its harmonies. I wanted to finish with electronic music, a party.”

The villa is a party

19:30 It’s almost blue hour. The 17 musicians of the Toulon Orchestra sat down at their desks. They tune their instruments, a cacophony reminiscent of a Fellini film Prova d’orchestra. In front of them is the villa, whose cubist architecture is highlighted by a whole game of lights. behind, the wall is pierced by large openings that frame the landscape. The guardian shadows of the trees on both sides of the stage. the magnificent canopy pine, which will also celebrate its centenary in 2028, great towering cypresses towering into the sky. There is a crazy energy in the air. The artists hug each other, the technicians make adjustments, the privileged few in the audience cover themselves with mosquito repellent. Raphael Lucas, who is also the conductor, sits on a makeshift podium, baton in hand, the score in front of him. Standing next to him is Vincent Huguet with a large bottle of water. Acrobats are spread across the yard and garden with trampolines and German wheels. “We’re about to start,” the chef warns.

Music plays under his beat. “I am the daughter of the wind / love is in my bed,” sings Delphine Maigret, the young girl with the donkey, an overture that poetically reinterprets a Provençal legend. The sky turns pink. “No more crescendos and decrescendos,” Raphael asks the musicians. Entrance of Charles and Jeanne de Noyer, soprano Jeanne Gérard and tenor Bastien Rimondi. The duo in street clothes (suits will come later) roll on the grass, kiss, talk. “Will you love me in the middle of all this?” / I sincerely love you and I won’t be the only one/ What will this love be like? / The one who makes poets write poems. /…/ » Night fell, quickly illuminated by city lights. Raphael continues to whisper in the ears of the musicians, Vincent calls the gym teacher. Change in the atmosphere. In this collage, it’s the musical’s turn. “Collect your smiles and your muscles,” commands Janis Sia, whose charisma is matched only by the enthusiasm, lead singers and acrobats in the hyper-invigorating class. “It’s crazy! It’s crazy, says the audience to the neighbor, who replies, “I enjoy it.” This is the end of act 1 and rehearsal. Villa Noailles is a party. He may adopt Colette’s slogan. “Rebirth was never beyond my power.”

Revive the rose. September 16 to 18 in collaboration with Toulon Opera Provence Mediterranean villanoailles.com