Paris Lyric Festival’s Second Edition Brings Italian Opera to Jacquemart-André Museum
The second edition of the Paris Lyric Festival is currently underway, offering a unique cultural experience by hosting operatic performances within the opulent setting of the Jacquemart-André Museum. Running through July 2nd, the festival focuses on Italian opera, specifically showcasing works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gaetano Donizetti. This year’s program, a “lyric journey through Italy,” features performances of Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore, offering audiences a chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of these classic compositions within a stunning architectural backdrop.
The Jacquemart-André Museum, a testament to the refined tastes of Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart, provides an intimate and visually captivating venue for these performances. Originally a private mansion, the museum houses a remarkable collection of Italian Renaissance art, creating a harmonious synergy between the visual arts and the operatic performances. The festival aims to present opera in a new light, breaking down traditional barriers and attracting a wider audience to this art form. The choice of the museum as a venue underscores the festival’s commitment to blending cultural experiences and offering a unique atmosphere for attendees.
Così fan tutte and L’Elisir d’amore: A Double Bill of Italian Masterpieces
Mozart’s Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti (K 588), a dramma giocoso in two acts, is a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire. Composed between 1789 and 1790, with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, it represents the third and final collaboration between Mozart and Da Ponte on operas buffa. The libretto draws inspiration from both Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Giovanni Battista Casti’s La grotta di Trofonio, exploring themes of love, fidelity, and deception. The opera centers around two young officers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, who wager with Don Alfonso that they can seduce Fiordiligi and Dorabella, the sisters they are engaged to.
Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore, a beloved comic opera, complements Così fan tutte with its lighthearted story of love and mistaken identity. The opera follows Nemorino, a poor peasant, as he attempts to win the affection of Adina, a wealthy landowner, with the help of a dubious elixir. The festival’s pairing of these two Italian masterpieces offers a diverse exploration of the operatic form, showcasing both Mozart’s sophisticated musicality and Donizetti’s charming melodies.
Robert Carsen’s Innovative Staging at La Scala and the Evolution of Opera Presentation
While the Paris Lyric Festival presents these works in a more traditional setting, recent operatic productions have embraced innovative staging concepts. Notably, Robert Carsen’s 2025 production of Così fan tutte at Teatro alla Scala in Milan reimagined the opera as a reality television show. This interpretation presented the story as an experiment on love and fidelity, with Don Alfonso and Despina acting as the show’s hosts, orchestrating and commenting on the romantic entanglements of the characters. This approach, as reported by WebLombardia, aimed to explore the societal pressures and manipulations inherent in modern relationships, mirroring the dynamics of reality TV.
Carsen’s staging, which debuted on November 5, 2025, and was broadcast on Rai Radio 3 and Rai5, sparked both praise and debate. The production’s success at La Scala demonstrates a growing trend in opera to engage with contemporary themes and presentation styles, attracting new audiences while challenging traditional expectations. This willingness to experiment with staging and interpretation reflects a broader effort to revitalize opera and create it more accessible to a wider public. The director explained that his staging, titled “La scuola degli amanti,” was inspired by modern television formats like Temptation Island and Love Is Blind.
Mozart’s Financial Struggles and the Creation of Così fan tutte
The creation of Così fan tutte occurred during a period of financial hardship for Mozart. Despite being appointed Kaiserlicher Kammermusikus (Imperial Court Musician) in 1787, receiving an annual salary of 900 florins, Mozart consistently faced economic difficulties. As detailed in the Wikipedia entry for Così fan tutte, this income was insufficient to meet the needs of his family, leading him to frequently seek loans from friends and undertake commissioned works to supplement his income. This financial pressure likely influenced his prolific output during this period, as he sought to generate revenue through both court appointments and independent compositions. The opera’s creation, was not solely an artistic endeavor but as well a practical response to Mozart’s economic circumstances.
The score for Così fan tutte is currently held in various libraries, including the Jagiellonian Library in Kraków (Act I), the Staatsbibliothek Stiftung Preußischer Besitz in Berlin (Act II), and the Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek in Frankfurt (Act II, Scene XIII, No. 30). These locations serve as important repositories for Mozart’s musical legacy, allowing scholars and musicians to study and perform his works with access to original manuscripts.
Key Takeaways
- The Paris Lyric Festival is showcasing Italian opera at the Jacquemart-André Museum through July 2nd.
- Performances include Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore.
- Recent operatic productions, like Robert Carsen’s at La Scala, are embracing innovative staging concepts.
- Mozart faced financial challenges during the creation of Così fan tutte.
The Paris Lyric Festival offers a compelling opportunity to experience the timeless beauty of Italian opera in a unique and intimate setting. As the festival continues, it promises to captivate audiences with its artistic excellence and innovative approach to presenting this beloved art form. For those interested in attending future performances or learning more about the festival, information can be found on the Jacquemart-André Museum’s website. We encourage readers to share their experiences and thoughts on the festival in the comments below.