Major Davel sings freedom
To bring the hero of Vaud independence back to life, the Opéra de Lausanne has commissioned a world premiere from Christian Favre, René Zahnd and Gianni Schneider. Rehearsal report.
A little air of Charles Gleyre? Costume rehearsal of “Davel” at the Opéra de Lausanne.
PATRICK MARTIN
Finally, here we are! But where exactly? On the set of the Opéra de Lausanne, or in Cully by the lake? At the avenue du Théâtre, in the background of the stage, the grand panorama of the place d’Armes of the wine-growing village unfolds, with the Grammont in the distance. The branches of the trees move and a few snowflakes fall in this animated painting thanks to the wonders of the video. A troop of soldiers disembarks, halberds on their shoulders, gathered around their leader, Jean Daniel Abraham Davel, who addresses them in his resonant baritone voice: “In this bright March sun / March on Lausanne! / Play, minions! / And you drums / Beat as loud / As the heart of the country!”