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MARCH 20 • 22 • 24 → 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, MARCH 27 → 2 PM
 

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Hall
Place des Arts
Venue
Théâtre Maisonneuve
Language: 
French and German (Subtitles : French and English)

Summary

After a successful premiere of the deeply moving opera Les feluettes in 2016, Quebec playwright Michel Marc Bouchard is back at OdM with an original libretto about the epic rescue of artwork from the Louvre. This time, he teams up with composer Julien Bilodeau. A proof of the inestimable value of art and beauty.

World War II is wreaking havoc while France has suffered an important defeat at the hands of the Germans. But the fight continues onto the art front when Hitler arrives in Paris. While Nazi officers plan to plunder the Louvre of its precious masterpieces, Jacques Jaujard and Rose Valland risk their lives orchestrating an historic clandestine rescue.

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Composer

Julien Bilodeau  >

Julien Bilodeau (Québec, 1974) is one of the most prominent composers of his generation. Winner of two first prizes with major distinctions at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, he then perfected in Paris (IRCAM, CCMIX) and in Frankfurt (Ensemble Modern Akademie, Frankfurt).

Librettist

Michel Marc Bouchard  >

Stage Director

Florent Siaud  >

Director Florent Siaud develops his work between Europe and Canada. Passionate about the theatrical writings of the 20th and 21st centuries, he stages fragmented texts in Montreal such as Don Juan revient de la guerre of von Horváth and Les Enivrés de Viripaev (Prospero), Toccate et fugue de Lepage (Center du Théâtre d'Aujourdhui), or Müller's Quartett, 4.48 Psychosis by Kane and Nina, is something else from Vinaver (La Chapelle).

Cast

Sets : Romain Fabre / Costumes : Sarah Balleux / Lighting : Nicolas Descoteaux / Video Projection : Gaspard Philippe

Production : Productions ODM inc. with the financial support of SODEC

Chœur de l’Opéra de Montréal

Orchestre Métropolitain

Synopsis

  • Synopsis

    As early as 1939, fearing the German advance with its bombing and pillaging, Jacques Jaujard, the director of France’s national museums, organized the removal of major pieces from the Louvre and the safe storage of its collections. As the Germans advanced on Paris, thousands of works of art found themselves in exile along the roads of France. The Mona Lisa, incognito, was part of the convoy. For her part, Rose Valland, the former director of the Jeu de Paume Museum, was relegated to the role of caretaker. In secret, she collected and compiled all the meaningful information she could about Jewish-owned private collections that were being seized by the Germans. Hermann Göring, Marshal of the German Empire, visited the Jeu de Paume dozens of times, selecting thousands of pieces for his personal collection. At the end of the war, through the efforts and instinct of Jacques Jaujard, all of the works from the Louvre were returned to their place in the museum. Thanks to Rose Valland’s work and notes, over 60,000 works plundered mainly from Jews were returned to their rightful owners.