Biennale Massenet

The Biennale Massenet: a unique festival dedicated to the Saint-Étienne composer

Jules Massenet (1842-1912), born in Montaud, a district of Saint-Étienne, is one of the most prolific and frequently performed French opera composers of the late 19th century. Author of over twenty-five operas—including Manon, Werther, Thaïs, and Le Cid—he profoundly marked the history of French lyrical music. However, a large part of his catalog remained unknown or absent from the stage when the Opéra de Saint-Étienne decided to create a festival in his honor.

Birth of the festival (1990)

In 1988, the performance of Amadis was a considerable success in Saint-Étienne. The following year, Thérèse was staged for the bicentennial of the French Revolution. Buoyed by these two successes, Jean-Louis Pichon, director of the Maison de la Culture et de la Communication, and Patrick Fournillier, musical director of the Opéra, decided to found the Biennale Massenet. The first edition took place in November 1990 with the revival of the opera Cléopâtre and the oratorio La Vierge.

Twelve editions of rediscovery (1990-2015)

The Biennale had twelve editions, each focusing on a rare or little-known work by Massenet:

• 1990: Cléopâtre, La Vierge
• 1992: Esclarmonde, Grisélidis, La Terre Promise
• 1994: Panurge, Le Cid
• 1996: Thaïs
• 1999: Le Roi de Lahore
• 2001: Roma
• 2003: Sapho
• 2005: Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame
• 2007: Ariane
• 2009: Manon (version with sung recitatives)
• 2012: Le Mage (centenary of Massenet's death)
• 2015: Le Marchand de Venise by Reynaldo Hahn

Each edition was accompanied by symphonic concerts, mélodie recitals, musicological conferences organized with the Université Jean Monnet (under the direction of Jean-Christophe Branger and Alban Ramaut), and recordings. In total, sixty opera performances and as many concerts and recitals were given across these twelve editions.

A living legacy

After the biennial format ceased in 2015, the Opéra de Saint-Étienne continues to champion Massenet's work in its regular seasons. In November 2018, a new production of Hérodiade was presented under the direction of Jean-Louis Pichon. In November 2024, the opera Thaïs opened the 2024-2025 season in a new staging by Pierre-Emmanuel Rousseau, perpetuating the Saint-Étienne house's commitment to its iconic composer.

The Grand Théâtre Massenet

The Grand Théâtre Massenet, inaugurated in 1969, is the main hall of the Opéra de Saint-Étienne. Located in the heart of the Jardin des Plantes, it is named after the Saint-Étienne-born composer and hosts the house's opera, symphonic, and choreographic productions. It was in this theater that all editions of the Biennale Massenet were held.