Théâtre National de Bretagne
Direction Arthur Nauzyciel
RUNNING TIME 1H30
Creation at the Opéra de Rennes, in partnership with TNB and the Orchestre National de Bretagne (February 2022)
On tour seasons 2025-2026
The first opera by the musical duo of Lady & Bird (Keren Ann and Barði Jóhannsson), Red Waters is a melancholic fable, a love story between a brother and sister, a tragic tale of family and incest, poison and enchantment, magic and ritual.
In 2011, an exceptional artistic team was assembled for the full creation: joining Arthur Nauzyciel as director were choreographer Damien Jalet, set designer Riccardo Hernández, lighting designer Scott Zielinski, and fashion designer Gaspard Yurkievich, with Marie Darrieussecq working on the French libretto and Sjón returning to help refine Red Waters’ narrative arc. Developing the music, Lady & Bird worked with a small choir and instrumental ensemble, adapting their usual electronic-folk style to the grand tragedy of opera, and infusing the sound of Red Waters with their distinctive lyrical melancholy.
Originally created in 2011 at Opéra de Rouen Normandie, Red Waters will be recreated in February 2022 at the Opéra de Rennes. The recently appointed directors of TNB and Opéra de Rennes, Arthur Nauzyciel and Matthieu Rietzler, will bring together a team of international creators to formulate a new version of this striking and singular work. The Orchestre National de Bretagne, a partner of the Théâtre National de Bretagne and the Opéra de Rennes, will take over the score of the work. The choral part will be provided by the Chamber Choir Mélisme(s).
RUNNING TIME 1H30
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DOSSIER ARTISTIQUEMusic & Libretto
KEREN ANN ZEIDEL & BARÐI JÓHANNSSON
(LADY & BIRD)
Based on an original idea by
SJÓN
KEREN ANN ZEIDEL & BARÐI JÓHANNSSON
(LADY & BIRD)
Direction
ARTHUR NAUZYCIEL
French libretto (surtitles)
MARIE DARRIEUSSECQ
Musical direction
NICOLAS AGULLO
Choreography
DAMIEN JALET
Set design
RICCARDO HERNANDEZ
Lighting
SCOTT ZIELINSKI
Costumes
GASPARD YURKIEVICH
Masks
BERTRAM LERCHE
Concept and realisation for ‘It’
PASCAL DOUDEMENT
With
5 singers and 3 dancers
and the Chamber Choir Mélisme(s)(9 performers), The Orchestre National de Bretagne (2 formats available on tour: "Mozart" formation in partnership withpermanent orchestras or chamber orchestra)
First version created in 2011. New creation in 2022. Co-production: Opéra de Rennes, Théâtre National de Bretagne, Orchestre National de Bretagne (under construction). Co-production first version: Opéra de Rouen Normandie, Festival Automne en Normandie, Centre Dramatique National Orléans/Loiret/Centre, L’Astrolabe-Orléans. With the support of the Région Centre.