It's a real victory for classical music: the National Orchestra of Montpellier Occitanie has managed to gather 3,000 people on the forecourt of the Town Hall by playing great classical tunes.
The program included a sublime aria from Les
Pêcheurs de perle,
sung by tenor Philippe Talbot, as well as
L'Arlésienne
by Bizet and the famous
Moldau
by Smetana.
Enough to seduce a large audience, even if the sound system was unfortunately not suitable for such a space and such a crowd.
But whatever !
The public, of all ages and all social conditions, remained totally captivated from the beginning to the end of this evening of July 14, who sat on the 1500 seats, who sat on the floor.
A work of circumstance, the orchestra played a
Marseillaise
loudly taken over by the public in front of the town hall signed Jean Nouvel and François Fontès.
Fireworks were then launched on the nearby body of water, as the music resumed with renewed vigor,
Hymne à l'amour
de Piaf and, of course,
Hymne à la joie
.
The next day, the festival took up residence at the Corum in front of a smaller audience for a performance of the opera
Hamlet
by Ambroise Thomas.
The most famous work of this composer, originally from Metz, remains
Mignon
, created in 1866. Two years after this first stroke of brilliance, Ambroise Thomas presented
Hamlet
, which would have an international destiny.
The work, rarely given these days, combines thunderous moments with others of great nuance.
It was served here by the Orchester national de Montpellier Occitanie under the direction of Michael Schønwandt and an exceptional cast of nine performers.
L'
Until July 29.
