Samson by Rameau at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence

Aix en provence Samson by Rameau tickets
Théâtre de l'Archévêché

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French surtitled in English
Aix en provence Samson by Rameau tickets
Samson by Rameau at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence
Book now From 157€/person

Location

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

Duration

2 h 25 min

With intermission


Details

Opera

For all audiences

In French with French and English surtitles


Highlights: Samson by Rameau at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence

In 2024, Aix-en-Provence’s delightful Festival d’Art Lyrique will celebrate its 76th birthday surrounded by crowds of opera and theatre lovers - and, like every year, a host of thrilling performances is in store!

 

To see in the month of July, the Théâtre de l’Archevêché will be staging Samson — an excellent opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau which, in 1734 and 1736, became subject to extreme cases of censorship on account of Rameau’s profanity and sacrilegious content. In the wake of these two fateful blows to his career, the project was ultimately abandoned, and the score faded into obscurity, revived occasionally for use in some of his later works. However, this year, German director Claus Guth and French conductor Raphaël Pichon seek to restore this once-forgotten opera with all the glory of its heyday, featuring a cast of contemporary talents, including American baritone Jarret Ott, American soprano Jacquelyn Stucker, and France’s own mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre. When accompanied by the Pygmalion Choir and Orchestra, this opera will undoubtedly resonate with all the greatness Rameau would have hoped for.

Story: Samson by Rameau at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence

This recreation of Jean-Philippe Rameau's Samson at the Théâtre de l'Archevêché promises to make a name for itself as a highlight of the Festival d’Art Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence — an exciting feat, given the excellence of the rest of the festival’s programme! In tradition with the 18th-century’s lyrical tragedy, this opera seeks to combine epic grandeur with the intricacy and sensitivity of delicate human emotions.

 

A collaboration of passion between conductor Raphaël Pichon and director Claus Guth aims to capture and express the spirit of the work rather than the totality of its libretto, offering a fresh new perspective on this lost opera and exemplifying the persistence of art and passion over the centuries. A sweet summer evening punctuated by baroque music…there’s no better way to start your July than with this rare viewing experience!

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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

Théâtre de l'Archévêché

FAQ

How do I get to the Théâtre de l'Archevêché?

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 centre of Aix-en-Provence, it takes just a few minutes on foot to get to the Théâtre de l'Archevêché through the picturesque streets of Aix-en-Provence. Aix-en-Provence’s city centre is entirely pedestrianised.
From the TGV station, take the bus no. 40 which will lead you to the bus station located in the centre of the city.
If you come by car, the Pasteur and Bellegarde parking lots are located a 5 minutes' walk from the theatre.
In case of difficulty, our hotline can be reached during our business hours. Please see the footer of this page for our contact details.

Is there a dress code at the Théâtre de l'Archevêché?

There is no specific dress code at Grand Théâtre de Provence, but proper attire is appreciated.

Will I be able to see the surtitles without difficulty?

The Théâtre de l'Archevêché is a modern theatre that offers a good view of the stage and surtitles from all seats.

Should I tip the ushers at the Théâtre de l'Archevêché?

The ushers at the Théâtre de l'Archevêché do accept tips, but it's not common.

The Théâtre de l'Archevêché is an open-air theatre. If it rains, will the performance of Samson be cancelled?

Since 2008, the Théâtre de l’Archevêché has only cancelled one show and delayed another by a few minutes. Therefore, you can rest assured that cancellation only occurs in exceptionally rare circumstances. To ensure that the best viewing conditions are achieved, the Théâtre de l’Archevêché has a dedicated meteorological contact at Météo-France that helps with decision-making if ever there is a possibility of adverse weather. 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 the rare event that your performance is cancelled, 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 Samson?

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 Samson. 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!

I bought tickets for Samson and I haven’t received them yet. Is this normal?

Yes, it’s completely normal! Your order will first be created as a pre-booking so that the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence can assign your seat. You may see a pre-payment on your card, but rest assured that we will not charge your card until your reservation has been validated by the theatre. Once the reservation is confirmed, you will receive your ticket by email.
Due to the large number of requests that the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence has to manage, this process usually takes two business days, but can take up to six days maximum. After six days if your order has not been validated, it will be cancelled, the pre-charge will disappear, and you will not be charged.

How do I know if my seats are next to each other?

Tickets of the same category that are booked during the same purchase session in the same booking order on our website are always assigned side by side. To be sure of this, make sure all of your tickets are in the same category and are included in your shopping cart at the time of purchase.