Jonah Hoskins and Sandra Hamaoui in les Pêcheurs de perles at TCE

On March 4, Bizet’s “Les Pêcheurs de perles” in concert version, created a surprise with the extraordinary performances of American tenor Jonah Hoskins as Nadir, baritone Joshua Hopkins as Zurga and the beauty of soprano Sandra Hamaoui as Leïla. She is engaged to be married to Benjamin Bernheim, the wonderful Franco Swiss tenor who will be singing “Werther” with her, conducted by François Xavier Roth, at TCE next March 2025. The evening’s 2000 seats were sold out and the public was clapping hysterically. It is time to plan your subscription for next season…

Michel Franck presented his last season after 15 years at TCE

Michel Franck compared himself to a (cooking) chef while presenting his last season at TCE. “You can get all the right ingredients, the freshest fish and vegetable, but you might still miss your dish”. For the 2024-2025 season, he feels he has assembled the greatest, musicians, singers and productions and his presentation was a fireworks of great news. The “Dialogue des Carmélites” directed by Olivier Py, presented last year is being revamped with Patricia Petitbon, Véronique Gens, Jodie Devos and Sophie Koch. (I did not like the staging of it though), Haendel’s Semele will be sung by Pretty Yende who is well known in Paris,and sang for King Charles coronation.

Pretty Yende sang at King Charles’ coronation

There will be 22 operas and oratorios in concert version including Rossini’s “l’Italienne à Alger” with Marie Nicole Lemieux and “Semiramide” with Karine Deshayes and Franco Fagioli and a concert of new voices with young singers, on February 17. The Wiener Philarmoniker will be back with Zubin Mehta and Pinchas Zukerman on January 17.  It will be the last year of Sunday morning concerts by Jeanine Roze who celebrates her fiftieth season. Emmanuel Pahud, Victor Julien-Laferrière, Anne Queffélec… will all be present.

Ballets will feature the Ballet National du Canada in October and Ballet de l’Opéra National d’Ukraine in December.

Michel Franck will be replaced next year by Baptiste Charroing, an altist who is director of productions at TCE.

Baptiste Charroing plays the alto and will replace Michel Franck in 2025

It is time to look at the subscriptions for the next season which will be very strong in ballet and fabulous French singers.