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.
This production is realized with the support of the Tax Shelter measure of the Belgian Federal Government through Flanders Tax Shelter.
