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

the threepenny opera // opera de quat'sous ©-theatre-de-l'archevêché
Théâtre de l'Archévêché

Show ended

French surtitled in English (See the page)

Location

Théâtre de l'Archévêché
Palais de l'Ancien Archevêché - Place des Martyrs de la Résistance - 13100 Aix-en-Provence
Capacity 1250 seats

Duration

2h 20min

No intermission


Details

Opera

Recommended for ages 14 and up

In French surtitled in French and in English


Highlights: The Threepenny Opera at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence

This 2023, The Festival d’Art Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence celebrates its 75th anniversary with a dazzling performance of an operatic masterpiece! The revered triumph of musical theatre The Threepenny Opera hits the stage of the Théâtre de l’Archevêché this 2023 season – a 1920s play in three acts and bursting with colorful characters, adventure awaits in The Threepenny Opera! Join gang leader Mack the Knife and his ragtag band of misfits: Crooked Fingers, Low-Dive Jenny, Hook-Finger Jacob, and a host of other lively personas in a biting satire on the pitfalls of post-war capitalism.

Story: The Threepenny Opera at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence

The Threepenny Opera’s name in German, Die Dreigroschenoper, literally means ‘the opera of three groschen’ (the groschen being a small silver coin). This stunning opera is a work originally inspired by The Beggar's Opera by English playwright John Gay, who spoke of it as a ‘pastoral of the criminal world’. In this comical opera, Bertolt Brecht weaponizes the operatic art form to turn it into a scathing critique of contemporary social criticism. The common point between the two works, which are two hundred years apart, is the priority given to the libretto.

Despite the production’s sensational text, audiences also appreciate its catchy and melodic songs that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head, along with its incredible story set in the depraved underbelly of Soho, London, navigated by our unconventionally-named protagonist Macky the Knife. Don’t miss this multi-faceted convergence of jazz, popular cabaret numbers, Lutheran chorale, and opera for a delightful evening filled with both humor and serious social reflections. An absolute must-watch!

 

 

Aix-en-Provence Festival Show options:

 

• Show-only tickets in category 1, 2, and 3

 

• Dinner and a show (seats in category 1)

The dinner and show package includes a special welcome, an apéritif and a presentation of the work by one of the dramaturges of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, a pre-show dinner in one of the reception areas of the Théâtre de l'Archevêché (more information will be disclosed to you in May, along with the detailed program of the dinner), a seat in the best area, a complimentary gift, and the provision of a pillow. Enjoy!

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Théâtre de l'Archévêché

Palais de l'Ancien Archevêché - Place des Martyrs de la Résistance - 13100 Aix-en-Provence

History and Fun Facts about the Théâtre de l’Archevêché


What do a host of internationally-acclaimed musicians, from the likes of soprano legends Teresa Stich-Randall, Teresa Berganza, Suzanne Danco, Mady Mesplé, Régine Crespin, Sylvia Sass, Graziella Sciutti, Rolando Panerai, Montserrat Caballé, and Marylin Horne, to the great conductors Carlo-Mario Giulini and Hans Rosbaud, composers Yan Maresz, Péter Ëotvös, and François Sarhan, and directors Joël Pommerat and Jorge Lavelli…allhave in common?

It’s the open-air stage in the courtyard of the Ancien Archevêché in Aix-en-Provence, which was transformed into a theatre in 1948 and has since become the emblematic venue of the Aix-en-Provence Opera Festival. Among others, each one of these talented and prolific artists has contributed to make this famous festival shine when summer arrives.

With its grand staircase, its medieval vaults, its 17th century wings, and its characteristically ocher Bibémus stone, the courtyard of the Old Archbishop's Palace is the charming venue where all opera lovers converge in July.
It is here that you will be able to savor the pleasure of the warm summer nights, the murmurs of the spectators, the joyful symphony of instruments, and of course the melodic lyricism of the performance.

An open-air stage where pleasures of the ears and of the eyes converge with hazy summer bliss!


Fast facts
Capacity: 1250
Handicap Accessible: Yes, please contact us at hello@theatreinparis.com before booking so that we can notify the theatre.
Air conditioning: No
Heating: No
Coat Check: No

FAQ

How do I get to the dinner venue and the Théâtre de l’Archevêché to see L’Opéra de quat’sous?

The Dinner Venue
The festival diner venue is always a spectacular experience and is chosen with care. It will be in or near the Théâtre de l’Archevêché and will be communicated to you in mid-May with the menu.
We recommend that you arrive 10 minutes before the dinner.


The Théâtre de l’Archevêché
The festival ushers will give you directions from the dinner venue to the theatre the night of the dinner.


The Théâtre de l’Archevêché is located in the courtyard of the Old Archbishop's Palace, Place des Martyrs de la Résistance in the charming city of Aix-en-Provence.
From the train station in the center of Aix-en-Provence, it takes only a few minutes on foot to get to the Théâtre de l’Archevêché through the pretty little streets of Aix-en-Provence. The city center of Aix-en-Provence is entirely pedestrian.
From the TGV station, take the bus n°'40 which will lead you to the bus station located in the center of the city. If you come by car, the Pasteur and Bellegarde parking lots are located 5 minutes' walk from the theater.

Is there a dress code to respect when attending the Aix-en-Provence Festival?

There is no imposed dress code but people attending the dinners are generally a little dressed up.

Can I see the surtitles without difficulty?

The Théâtre de l’Archevêché is a modern theater that offers a view of the stage from all seats, but the dinner and show package also guarantees you the best seats in the Théâtre de l’Archevêché, which will be in the central square.

What does the dinner and show package for The Threepenny Opera entitle me to?

The dinner and show package includes a special welcome, an aperitif and a presentation of the work by one of the dramturges of the Aix-en-Provence Festival, a dinner before the show in one of the reception areas of the Théâtre de l'Archevêché (which will be communicated to you in May with the detailed program of the dinner), a seat in the best category, a gift and the provision of a pillow.

I bought tickets for The Threepenny Opera and I haven't received them yet. Is this normal?

Yes, this is perfectly normal! Your order will first be created as a pre-booking so that the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence can allocate your seats and prepare your exclusive package. You may see a pre-payment on your card, but rest assured that we will only debit your card once your reservation has been validated by the Théâtre de l’Archevêché. Once the reservation is validated, you will receive a Theatre in Paris voucher by e-mail.

Due to the large number of requests that the Théâtre de l’Archevêché has to manage, this process is usually completed within three working days. After this period, your order and your pre-payment are automatically cancelled.

Should I tip the ushers?

The Théâtre de l’Archevêché Ushers do not accept tips.

The Théâtre de l'Archêvéché is an open-air theater. If it rains, is the show cancelled?

For the dinners, there are fallback solutions indoors.
For performances, since 2008 Théâtre de l’Archevêché has only cancelled one and delayed another by a few minutes. Therefore, this is a very rare occasion. To help continue this to be a rare occasion, the Théâtre de l’Archevêché has a dedicated contact at Météo-France that helps in decision-making if ever there is a possibility of weather interruption. If the rain starts during the performance, Theatre in Paris will refund your tickets unless more than half of the performance has been played.


In case of cancellation of a performance, reimbursement will be made only upon request with presentation of the ticket(s). All requests must be sent no later than 30 days after the end of the Festival. After this date, no refund will be made. No additional expenses (transportation, parking, hotels...) will be reimbursed or compensated.

Can I take photos during the performance of The Threepenny Opera?

In order not to disturb the artists on stage, and for the comfort of other guests, you are not permitted to photograph, film, or record the performance for the duration of The Threepenny Opera. As long as the performance is not currently in session, feel free to take a snapshot of the Théâtre de l’Archevêché to remember your night out!