From May 31 to July 28, 2023, the self-proclaimed “largest interdisciplinary festival in the world” will offer 131 concerts and theater, dance and circus performances at the emblematic Roman theaters of Fourvière and Odéon as well as in other Lyon sites.
Faithful to the eclecticism that has forged its identity for 21 years, the Nuits de Fourvière festival in Lyon will this year invite certified talents such as Philippe Decouflé, Isabelle Adjani, Michel Polnareff, Kassav’, The Black Keys or Christine and the Queens, but will also showcase local and emerging artists.
Grand opening by Philippe Decouflé
The 2023 edition will open with Philippe Decouflé for the first time at the Grand Théâtre which
will recreate his show Stereo in the Deluxe version: between music and dance, fragments
of the history of rock’n’roll carried by a young team and its raw energy.
Still on the dance side, the French choreographer Benjamin Millepied – already present in 2022 – will present a creation alongside the pianist Alexandre Tharaud. The Spaniard Maria Pages will be at the heart of a “flamenco night” and the Lebanese company Maqamat will invite spectators to a traditional meal after its presentation.
Local artists and international stars
Among the stars invited are Michel Polnareff, on tour after a six-year absence in France. The zouk pioneers of Kassav’ will pay tribute to their founder Jabob Desvarieux who died in 2021. The rockers from Ohio The Black Keys will rock the ancient theater and Christine and the Queens will present their new album with the accents of the beginnings.
For its latest programming, Dominique Delorme, who will hand over next year to the duo formed by Emmanuelle Durand and Vincent Anglade after 21 years of service, also wanted to call on regulars like the “locals” Benjamin Biolay or Pomme, but also to Catherine Ringer, for an intimate show around poetry.
Several original choral and orchestral proposals will punctuate the edition: the
Verdi’s Requiem will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Opéra de Lyon orchestra, the Spirito choir will sing the Beatles with Yes It Is. The Conservatory orchestra will bring together the themes of Albert Dupontel’s films composed by Christophe Julien in Dupontel Symphonik, and will accompany Thylacine.
Bernard Lavilliers, Simply Red, Ben Harper, Souad Massi in duet with Imany, Queens of the Stone Age, alt-J, Jeanne Added, The Blaze, Zazie, Sigur Rós and Disiz will complete this three-star cast.
Theatre, comedy and circus
Isabelle Adjani will also appear on stage three evenings in a row for a dialogue with Marilyn Monroe articulated by Olivier Steiner, and Ariane Ascaride will perform with Clotilde Hesme the musical reading witches according to Mona Chollet, while Florence Foresti, back alone on stage, will present her new show BOys Boys Boys.
Original shapes will be welcomed with No Way, Veronicadirected by Jean Boillot inspired by The Thing by John Carpenter, or with Himmelerde, the masked musical theater piece by the Familie Flötz and the Musicbanda Franui. The complicity with ENSATT will continue to reflect the new generation through four shows, including student exit openings and the 2022 winner of the Impatience festival.
The Welsh circus company Nofit State Circus will set up its tent for three weeks in the Domaine de Lacroix-Laval for a new show Sabotagewhile saxophonist Raphaël Imbert and jack-of-all-trades André Minvielle will offer performances “unclassifiable” in their image. Finally, the Cameroonian company Akutuk will present an aquatic percussion show under the Musée des Confluences.
For the second edition of Vogue at nightthe organizers invited the “promising youth”with Tamino, French 79, Irène Diesel and choreographer Medhi Kerkouche for Portrait.
In 2022, the Nuits de Fourvière attracted 153,000 spectators, making a spectacular rebound after two editions weighed down by the Covid-19 epidemic.
Fourvière Nights in Lyon from May 31 to July 28, 2023
150,000 tickets go on sale from Wednesday March 15, from 12 p.m..