What is the Festival d’Art Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence?

Created in 1948, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence remains one of the leading events of the opera season! Boasting programmes dedicated to innovative new productions, the highest quality concerts, and unique staging, this acclaimed opera festival is a marriage between art and innovation unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. This festival, dedicated to operatic excellence, rose to fame with a modest production of the classic opera Cosí fan tutte in 1948. However, its humble beginnings paved the way for more than 60 years of creative collaboration with artists from all across the world. In 2023, the opera festival was awarded the Best Festival Award by the Oper! Awards for its 2022 season. Based in Germany, the Oper! Awards recognize the best creatives of the international opera scene. This special 2023 season kicks off the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence’s 75th year, and the season promises more spectacle, more risks, and a strong emphasis on creation. If you’re looking for something to do in the South of France this summer, look no further…!

Best shows to see at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

Così fan tutte at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

In honour of the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence’s 75th anniversary, the festival presents a brand-new production of Mozart’s classic opera Cosí fan tutte this 2023 season. Born out of a collaboration between director Dmitri Tcherniakov and conductor Thomas Hengelbrock, this ambitious production poses a modern take on the well-known opera. The opera, of which the title literally means ‘So do they all’ (in Italian), tells a story of a middle-aged couple and their two friends on holiday, ready to explore what it means to love and mature together. However, this holiday turns into a unique experiment where the friends suggest a role-playing game for the couple to find a better understanding of themselves. What they discover will change them forever…

If you’re a fan of the classics, don’t miss out on this timeless piece. A relatively little-known piece, this opera is regarded as a masterpiece of comedy and whimsy, as created by some of the greatest minds of their era.

The Threepenny Opera at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

First performed in 1928, based on a book by renowned playwright Bertolt Brecht and music by Kurt Weil, this story is a retelling of The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay. For the first time, the troupe of the Comédie-Française will take to the stage of the Aix-en-Provence festival, under the skilful direction of Thomas Ostermeier. Maxime Pascal will conduct his ensemble, Le Balcon, to perform the original version of the opera for the first time on stage since its creation. This production also features a new translation, along with two unpublished songs that are making their world premiere at the Aix-en-Provence lyric festival!

Brecht’s text posits a critique of contemporary social criticism, coupled with a catchy and melodic score. Although this opera was originally set in Soho, London, this unique operatic production will be staged in Russia during the October Revolution. Our protagonist, Macky the Knife, takes the audience through an evening of humour, social commentary, and a multitude of musical genres. This production, rich in history and humour, is not one to be missed!

Picture a Day Like This at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

Come and see the world premiere of this new opera, as presented exclusively by the Aix-en-Provence festival! Billed as “Alice in Wonderland for adults,” this contemporary opera takes its audience through a deeply moving musical adventure, designed to affect and delight the audience, leaving them thinking about what it truly means to be happy.

Dive into a world just like any other, on a day just like any other… but struck with profound misfortune. Join one mother in her search for a reversal of tragedy as she seeks a truly happy person. On her journey, she meets a colourful cast of characters, but who is really happy?
Staged with a modern cast and a simple set, directors, and designers, Daniel Jeanneteau and Marie-Chistine Soma aim to show recognizable figures from contemporary life in this touching exploration of the human psyche.

Along with the designers, Sir George Benjamin makes his triumphant return to the Aix-en-Provence festival, eleven years after the success of his opera Written on Skin. Along with a libretto by Martin Crimp, Benjamin mirrors the flow of life through the gentle flow of his music, taking the audience along this journey of self-discovery and human nature. An opera for the ages and a modern classic – you won’t want to miss this exquisite opera premiere.

GET YOUR OPERA TICKETS FOR THE FESTIVAL D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE!

If any of these spectacular operas sound intriguing to you, you can find more information for purchasing tickets on our website. For a more luxurious experience, opt for the opulent dinner and a show package, which includes a special welcome, an apéritif, and a presentation by one of the Aix-en-Provence Festival’s dramaturgs, all before you even enjoy your beautifully crafted dinner!