Fidelio unplugged
Opera without limits
On November 18, 2015, we premiered our adventure opera Fidelio in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, near Paris. An eventful time, because 5 days earlier the French capital was hit by a series of terrorist attacks. President Hollande declared a state of emergency in all of France, causing several school performances to be canceled. If the schools couldn’t come to the theater, we would go to the schools. We made a pop-up version, which became such a success that we decided to keep it on the program.
More LessThe story in a nutshell
Leonore hasn’t seen her beloved Florestan for two years. Pizarro has been holding Florestan captive for two years. Is Florestan a dangerous monster? Or a sneaky thief? Not at all. Florestan has one huge passion: singing. And his songs make people dream.
Pizarro, however, will not tolerate such dreaming
He has decided to stop Florestan from singing once and for all. To do so, he locks Florestan inside a secret dungeon, deep underground. People will soon forget all about him.
But Leonore misses her Florestan. She simply cannot forget him. She is determined to free her friend from cruel Pizarro’s claws.
Exclusively for schools, libraries, asylum centers, prisons, living rooms, …
| project, libretto & direction | Judith Vindevogel |
| French translation | Lorenzo Caròla & Judith Vindevogel |
| music | Ludwig van Beethoven |
| musical arrangements, soundscapes & live piano | Jago Moons |
| scenography & technique | Stef Depover |
| with | Annelies Van Hijfte (Dutch version) /Liesbeth Devos (French version) (soprano), Astrid Stockman (soprano), Kurt Gysen (Dutch version)/Ronan Debois (French version) (bariton), Saïd Boumazoughe (film) |
| costume design | Caroline Wittemans |
| design puppet & mask | Filip Peeters |
| video | de Imagerie/Studio C |
| production | WALPURGIS |
| coproduction | HETPALEIS (BE), Théâtre de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines/Scène nationale (FR) |
| with the support of | Arcadi Île-de-France & de Vlaamse gemeenschap |
project, libretto & direction
Judith Vindevogel
French translation
Lorenzo Caròla & Judith Vindevogel
music
Ludwig van Beethoven
musical arrangements, soundscapes & live piano
Jago Moons
scenography & technique
Stef Depover
with
Annelies Van Hijfte (Dutch version) /Liesbeth Devos (French version) (soprano), Astrid Stockman (soprano), Kurt Gysen (Dutch version)/Ronan Debois (French version) (bariton), Saïd Boumazoughe (film)
costume design
Caroline Wittemans
design puppet & mask
Filip Peeters
video
de Imagerie/Studio C
production
WALPURGIS
coproduction
HETPALEIS (BE), Théâtre de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines/Scène nationale (FR)
with the support of
Arcadi Île-de-France & de Vlaamse gemeenschap
Reviews
“Fidelio is a very topical plea for love and justice in times of a more and more urgent need for citizen participation.”
Beethoven here and now, for young and old. Kif Kif – Orlando Verde – 28.10.2016
“Fidelio is challenging music theater for today’s children!”
Flemish Musical Magazine – Glen Vandenberghe – 30.10.2016
“Fidelio in 3 words: PURE, PACKED, WORKING Mission Success!”
Podi-art.be – Swa Van de brul – 10.02.2016
“A performance like Fidelio draws its audience’s attention to so many essential things, and is the ideal educational method for making children think about social themes, values and standards in a fun way.”
Frontview Magazine – Anouk Antonissen – 14.02.2016
“The educational and artistic design of this Fidelio immediately emphasizes the content of the given as Judith Vindevogel sees it: to pay tribute to the love that not only frees loved ones but above all generates a general feeling of being connected in charity.”
Theatermaggezien – Roger Arteel – 19.02.2016
“Especially the singing together was very strong, everything was made even more intense by letting the singers move between the children.”
Classical Central – Veerle Deknopper – 18.02. 2016
“If an opera singer or singer sings an aria barely a meter away, you will feel that in your smallest toe (…) a surround experience that has no equal, that just blows you over.”
Fidelio, bread for children and adults – Blog The Owl Field – 17.02.2016
“This Fidelio is a nice addition to the international bestseller ‘Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls’ and (…) a call to reject any form of tyranny or populism.”
Theaterkrant – Henri Drost – 29.05.2018
“You are your own instrument, that is a very nice feeling.”
Astrid Stockman sings in the opera – Interview with soprano Astrid Stockman (role of Marcelline ) in Wablieft newspaper – Ruud Meert – 23.03.2016
“Sometimes you have the courage to take action, if you want something to change.”
Interview with director Judith Vindevogel at MMM Munt Monnaie Magazine – Linda Lovrovic – October 2016
“For me, searching is just as valuable as finding, and on the way you can also create beautiful things that are worth sharing.”
Interview with musician Jago Moons in wOwW! -Magazine – Natalie Schrauwen – March 2018
Audience
“I am happy and sad at the same time, happy because it was so incredibly beautiful, but also sad: people do too much ugly things to each other, that must have been done!”
Rune
“Fascinated for 45 minutes, amazed by the beauty of chants, strong characters, beautiful message.”
Kathleen, the gang of Fly
“Very poetic and yet very understandable.”
Geert
“Playful and playful, both for children and adults very worthwhile.”
Carmien
“I thought about the performance,” I would have been able to experience something like that as a child. ”
Isabelle
“My first year has not talked about anything else since Tuesday, it was beautiful!”
Tian
“Goose bumps and tears, it tastes like … Opera for kids, I’m a fan!”
Ingrid
“I took my son to see FIDELIO this week at Het Paleis in Antwerp. It is a wonderful combination of music and theatre and it brought a tear to my eye, the ending is extremely moving. If you want to hear fabulous singing from convincing, elegant and energetic performers AND have children under the age of 10, you must go and see FIDELIO. These operatic story concepts for children devised by Judith Vindevogel keep getting better and better!”
Catrin Wyn-Davies
