This is the story of a somewhat crazy project… that of one of the all too rare female conductors in France: Savitri de Rochefort. This Norman at heart wanted to put on her first grand opera near her home… in Eure. With the help of high school students from the region for the sets, costumes, make-up and hairdressing. The countdown is on for "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Château d'Harcourt... And even if nothing or almost nothing happened as planned, the film ends well.
Behind the pun, the title is not insignificant. "Tous à l'Eure de l'Opéra" is a documentary in the form of a relentless countdown, where the days go by inexorably until the final performance, which took place on June 26th...
With suspense, and endearing characters.
After this adventure, I was repeatedly told: “You see Savitri, your shoulders are wider than you think. “I am happy to have done it, despite the Covid, the weather and all the obstacles that we may have encountered. This performance was a miracle.
In the film, we see her upset, under a deluge of rain the day before the performance… And yet, she persists. And yet, the long-awaited performance will take place in front of 600 spectators who came despite the rain:
"There is a lot of fatigue that is accumulating, we were also very late for the organization and we have the weather which is really not doing its part. For the instruments, it's catastrophic. For period instruments, it's even dangerous, it can damage them. (…) That's what happens behind the scenes."
It's also interesting to know that behind a show, there is work, but also pain, suffering and also a lot of joy at the end in general.
"All in the Eure of the Opera" by Emmanuel Querry
duration of the video: 56sec "All in the Eure of the opera": suffering •©"All in the Eure of the opera" by Emmanuel QuerryAmong the characters in the documentary, there is also high school students.
duration of the video: 01min 21 "All in the Eure of the opera": the red curtains •©"All in the Eure of the opera" by Emmanuel QuerryFanny Graindor, tapestry decor teacher: “We are with the students of DTMS – the performing arts technician diploma. They are making textile decorations. Curtains, cushions, seats… we are on sets that are very high… it takes time. We are on a very short deadline for the achievements. »
Amandine, DTMS student: "I have just finished sewing for the curtains that will be on stage. It's really thick satin so that there is a nice drape. At home, I look at the piece... it you still have to know the story when you build a set."
Savitri de Rochefort: Going to see the progress of the work of these high school students, it allows you to see that everything is happening. (…) I am very moved and super happy. I felt their enthusiasm. their desire. Here we are in the concrete, everything begins to come to life. It is magic.
It is very important to do this kind of project and to continue to cultivate. To be able to help these young people, for us, is something extraordinary.
"All in the Eure of the Opera" by Emmanuel Querry
duration of the video: 01min 46 "All at the Eure de l'Opéra": it's great •©"All at the Eure de l'Opéra" by Emmanuel QuerryLouisa: "I'm never going to the opera, it's all new for me. I do theatre… and opera makes it more grandiose, more impressive. Earlier, we were with the singers who were rehearsing… it's fascinating. It's big."
"These don't have to be disguises. (...) These costumes help the actors to embody the characters. When you have little heel pieces, a wig, stockings, when you're a man, you feel a bit more count. All of those things impact the game, they just serve the lie even better."
duration of the video: 47sec "All in the Eure of the opera": no disguises •©"All in the Eure of the opera" by Emmanuel QuerryIt was a challenge for me to succeed to show just about everyone. This film, I thought it, wrote it, to give space to the actors. I am very proud of it because it was a very big job, until the last second.
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A slightly crazy project that could have a sequel... Savitri de Rochefort would like to set up a biennial and stage Bizet's "Carmen" in 2023, still in Eure. With an even more participative project... right down to the singing, since "Carmen" is in French.
"Tous à l'Eure de l'opéra", a documentary to watch on Thursday March 3, 2022 at 11 p.m. on France 3 Normandie and on france.tv.
Rebroadcasts on Thursday March 17 around midnight and Monday, March 21 at 9:50 a.m.
A documentary to replay here, from March 4 and on france.tv:
"All in the Eure of the Opera" by Emmanuel Querry
A Mérapi Productions, Cross River Productions and France Télévisions co-production
