Escaich : Claude

Escaich : Claude

A modern opera inspired by Victor Hugo’s Claude Gueux, on a libretto by Robert Badinter and music by Thierry Escaich. The synopsis of Claude is based on a true story. Robert Badinter has read again and again the original file from the judicial archives of Troyes. Claude is a silk worker from la Croix-Rousse. He tries to lives a happy life with his wife and daughter. For them and for him he refuses the misery imposed by their condition. When his boss lays off workers to replace them by new English machines. Claude grabs his rifle and run to the barricades.

Claude is sentenced to 7 years of hard-Labor at Clairvaux’s prison workshop. His love for the quality of his work and his hate of injustice makes him a charismatic figure for the others prisoners. To weaken him, the prison warden separates Claude from his most precious friend, Albin. From this, follows a chain of injustice and violence in witch Claude finish to kill the director. He will himself be ‘’guillotined’’ (decapitated).

Claude is a plea against prison and for human dignity worn by magnificent performers: Jean-Sébastien Bou, in the title role, Jean-Philippe Lafont and Rodrigo Ferreira. The Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon is conducted by Jérémie Rhorer. This thrilling opera is staged by Olivier Py.

Escaich : Claude [DVD]

Music : Thierry Escaich (*1965)
Libretto : Robert Badinter

After « Claude Gueux » by Victor Hugo
World premiere – Commissioned by the Opéra de Lyon

Claude Jean-Sébastien Bou
Le Directeur Jean-Philippe Lafont
Albin Rodrigo Ferreira
L’Entrepreneur / Le Surveillant Général Laurent Alvaro
Premier personnage / Premier Surveillant Rémy Mathieu
Deuxième personnage / Deuxième Surveillant Philip Sheffield

Orchestre, Chœurs et Maîtrise de l’Opéra de Lyon

Conductor Jérémie Rhorer

Chorus master Alan Woodbridge

Stage direction Olivier Py

Sets & costumes Pierre-André Weitz
Lighting design Bertrand Killy
Choreography Daniel Izzo