The Alsatian opera festival ends in style this weekend with Offenbach’s opera “La Grande-duchesse de Gerolstein”. A brand new concept that brings internationally renowned artists to the stage accompanied by a choir of amateur singers.
It’s an opera festival that you could almost say pocket-sized, but which for its fourth edition is getting bigger and bigger. The Voice of the Forges Festivalso named because it is held in the historic forges of Jaegerthal (Bas-Rhin), presents on July 15 and 16, 2023 its brand new creation around the work of Offenbach The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein.
A country opera
As soon as they arrive at the forge, spectators are warmly welcomed by the festival organizers. The performance has been sold out for a long time because the La voix des Forges festival is known for its festive and friendly spirit. “It’s an unusual animation here”, rejoices a spectator. “When something happens in the countryside, you have to go there”, smiled another viewer.
On the stage as in the room, the show is played with the public who is invited to sing in chorus with the artists a happy birthday to the Duchess of Gerolstein. Wearing yellow Converse and wearing a sparkling blue dress, the Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, interpreted by the mezzo-soprano Pauline Sabatier, savors her pleasure and sings the tunes of Offenbach.
Since its creation in 2019, the programmers of this festival have been committed to to federate a new public “I gotta Feeling that The Voice of the Forges is resonating in this valley, but it goes beyond that, it’s an awakening that takes place around the shows”, notes Céline Mellon, festival founder.
An Alsatian amateur choir
Although it is still modest, the Voix des Forges festival is taking a step forward this year. Alongside the professional artists, the organizers invited the amateur choir from the‘Opera of Industries. An extraordinary artistic adventure that provokes unexpected encounters between residents, volunteers, young people in technical training, local singers and professional artists. A kind of magic potion that turns out to be a most inspiring human adventure.
Everyone can and is invited to enter the dance, through their skills, their desire, their curiosity. The work then becomes cooperative and local. The friendly and joyful atmosphere allows choristers (complete beginners for the most part) to develop new skills including memory, creativity and self-confidence while fighting against daily stress.“Every night when we rehearsed I couldn’t fall asleep because we’re electric, it gives energy, it’s great, I have fun”, enthusiastically recounts an amateur singer.
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In terms of sets, costumes and scenic design, the premises and integration are also central to the creative approach of the Opéra des Industries. Everything was imagined and manufactured by a team of professionals who called on regional stakeholders. The ESAT of the Ateliers du Sonnenhof and the apprentices of the Alsace training center of the Union of Metallurgical and Mining Industries produced the scenic device animated by a decor of mobile cubes.“The goal of this festival is to democratize culture, to make opera more popular, so everything has been done to make it much more accessible”, explains the scenographer and costume designer, Mathilde Melero.
“The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein” at the La Voix des Forges festival on July 15 and 16, 2023.