Welcome to a celebration of the life and art of Paul
Gauguin. You are invited to discover the many facets
of a complex and insightful man. Paul Gauguin is unveiled
through what we learn about his life, his struggles
and the soul of a brilliant man celebrated by a chamber
opera which stages his progressive and innovative essence.
“Bonjour M. Gauguin” is a unique combination of paintings
and music which brings to life the beauty unexpectedly
discovered in the painter’s insights, correspondence
and artistic commentary. These rare and largely unknown
writings, which expose Paul Gauguin’s literary talent
as well as his artistic brilliance, were recovered after
extensive research and shed light on the complexity,
controversy and poetry of Gauguin. His very words gave
birth to the opera and libretto itself, perhaps the
first time in musical history that a theatrical portrayal
is self-defined by the subject: Paul Gauguin in his
own words set to music by composer Fabrizio Carlone.
The music, written in constant confrontation with these
marvelous texts, dense with poetic imagery and artistic
vision, gives life to an opera with a distinctive relationship
between music and texts. By means of this opera, the
extraordinary experience of full immersion into a comprehensive
universe of art, music and poetry is extended to the
listener. In participating in this great human and artistic
adventure, one is lured into sharing individual feelings
with those of Gauguin, opening one’s mind to a new musical
landscape.
Of the five vocalists, both baryton and soprano interpret
the character of Gauguin. The rich variety of the painters’
writing inspired the creation of the two roles portraying
Gauguin, at times full of bold sarcastic controversy
and at others full of carefree, artistic vision.
Through this device the full range of literary colours
have been voiced with this innovative portrayal. The
other three voices (mezzo-soprano, tenor and bass) depict
Gauguin’s contemporaries, at times narrating the artistic
world of the painter.
The scene is set with multi-layered screens on which
a video artist will provide fresh, original images created
from the colours and details of Gauguin’s paintings.
The stage is set for Gauguin’s words with a full sensory
experience of sounds, lights and colour.
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