Le Balcon

In his chamber opera To Be Sung, Pascal Dusapin eschews any form of dramatic structure or plot in favour of a ‘prose of pure imagination’, delivered by three sopranos alongside a narrator and enhanced by instrumental textures and an electroacoustic component.

“Of the ten operas composed by Pascal Dusapin, To Be Sung is certainly the most singular. Its chamber format and its libretto, borrowed from the American writer Gertrude Stein, make it – as much as its genesis – a work apart, haunting and circular. This third opera, premiered in 1994, replaces the idea of the stage with the plasticity of performance. There are no roles here, no protagonists of a plot that could be summarised or described. In the abstract space of the ‘Large and lofty room’ – the first four words spoken – three voices move, mingling or unravelling, joining or separating, becoming distinct or playing on their similarities. To Be Sung is an opera of high-flying artistry, a virtuosity without beginning or end. It is a lyrical moment whose pure sensuality appeals to the listener’s imagination and demands that they let go.”

Program