Johann Christian Bach’s Amadis de Gaule dives straight into the dark side of love. The sorceress Arcabonne shocks herself by falling for Amadis — the knight who killed her brother — and her turmoil sets off a chain of jealousy, mistrust, and emotional trial for two entwined couples.
Behind the familiar world of knights, dragons, and magic lies the opera’s real story: the inner transformation of Amadis and Oriane, whose journey toward clarity and truth gives this work its force. Premiered in Paris in 1779, Amadis de Gaule confronted its audience with a sharp look at envy, hypocrisy, and desire — themes that hit even harder today.
At its heart stands opera’s first ‘death by love,’ and a final triumph of pure devotion over darkness. A rare chance to experience Bach’s most daring and psychologically rich stage work.