Singers, instrumentalists, actors, dancers,
we invite you to join the merry band of the “Aurora ingannata”… 

AMAmusique’s 2022 major project, in partnership with the Conservatoire populaire :
to stage an opera with orchestra, singers, dancers and actors, in costumes, and performed in a Geneva theatre in October 2022.

Four stage professionals come together to create a project that is new to AMAmusique and rare in Geneva:

you, instrumentalists, singers, dancers and amateur actors, will come together to stage a baroque opera, in which historicism and modernity will mingle. There will be singing, orchestral tracks, dancing and theatrical improvisation, lots of laughter and emotion, all in costume.

A whole year of work, for performances in a Geneva theatre in October 2022.

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Roberto Festa, renowned conductor of ancient music (Daedalus ensemble), for his musical direction, will make the instrumentalists of the orchestra work.

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Marie Arnaud Snakkers, a pedagogue of baroque gestures and vocality, and a voice pedagogue, will direct the singers and stage them.

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Lucy Nightingale, a professor at the Conservatoire populaire, an award-winning dancer and choreographer, and a pedagogue of the body in movement, will work on dance interludes with her students and offer singers (and interested musicians) work sessions on the body.

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And Michel Favre, a professor at the Conservatoire populaire, a talented actor, teacher and director, will direct and mentor the actor-improvisers responsible for making history understandable.

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At the end of preparation, everyone will meet for five days of final set-up, where each of the trainees will be able to benefit from the pedagogy and artistic approach of each of these four “good geniuses”.

The opportunities to live such an adventure are rare, and so rich in teaching…

The instrumentalists will be mixed with professionals to play accompaniments and interludes.

The singers, chosen from among the members of AMAmusique and the Conservatoire populaire and prepared by their teachers, will provide the vocal parts: the shy ones will slip into the choirs, and may discover that they are not so shy, thanks to our pedagogical supervision… Those who dream of playing characters will take on the solo roles.

The actors will improvise the story to brilliantly replace the surtitles. Sometimes on the set with the singers, they will play with them.

The dancers will animate the interludes and will also be able to tell stories without words.

All together, we are going to take up a beautiful challenge: to create a high quality amateur show, lively and funny, moving, exotic and graceful, where everyone will have the place they want.

In order for the project to result in public performances, everyone will have to make a solemn commitment to work and to be present at the rehearsals. 10 sessions from October 2021 to October 2022, + five days during the October 2022 holidays, just before the performances.

First start-up session on October 2021: it’s a friendly hearing to meet and explain everything … We will listen to you kindly, to give you the role best adapted to your voice, and the most comfortable instrumental role for your level…

The dates of the sessions will be announced at a later date
Instrumentalists will work on Saturdays, singers, whole weekends, with possibilities of arrangement.

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The Aurora Ingannata, a mythological opera by Girolamo Jacobbi, Bologna, 1605:

The story: Aurora burns with desire for the beautiful Cephalus, who, in love with his faithful wife Procris, rejects her. She confides in her friend Venus, who, touched, promises her help. After a few setbacks, and with the help of Sommeil et Morphée, Aurore appears to Cephalus as Procris, and succeeds in getting a kiss. The real Procris, seeing herself betrayed, rejects Cephalus. Aurore’s old husband, Tithon, witness of the scene and betrayed too, orders Aurore to go home. Cephale remains alone, does not understand the reason for her misfortune, and mourns the departure of her beloved.