Carmen - Open Air Opera

Opera comes to the heart of Perche

Opéra en Campagne is an association born from a bold idea: to make lyrical art accessible where it is least expected, in rural areas. Founded by conductor Pierre Ledru, this original initiative aims to create an opera rooted in its territory, the Perche, by uniting local talents and opening the doors of classical music to all audiences. The choice of Nogent-le-Rotrou as the performance venue is no accident: this historic town in Eure-et-Loir, with its remarkable heritage, offers a natural and architectural setting conducive to lyrical enchantment.

Carmen: a masterful first production

For its first production, Opéra en Campagne has chosen one of the most popular operas in the world: Georges Bizet's Carmen. Presented in May 2025 at the Théâtre de Verdure in Nogent-le-Rotrou, this production mobilized over 150 artists on stage: 10 professional lyrical soloists, a symphony orchestra of 60 musicians, and 2 adult and children's choirs recruited and trained in the region. The original staging by Nicolas Gaudart, under the musical direction of Pierre Ledru, offered a vibrant and accessible version of this masterpiece.

A social and solidarity project

Beyond the performance, Opéra en Campagne carries a true social and solidarity project. The recruitment of choristers from among the inhabitants of Perche—adults and children, amateurs and novices—embodies this desire to make opera a shared and unifying art form. Months of rehearsals and training preceded the performances, creating a deep bond between the professional artists and the local participants. This participatory project transforms spectators into actors, making each performance a unique moment of communion.

Over 3,000 enthusiastic spectators

The three performances of Carmen in May 2025 attracted over 3,000 spectators, confirming the appetite of the rural public for lyrical art when it is offered in an open and uninhibited way. The success of this first production augurs a promising future for Opéra en Campagne, which aims to offer new open-air lyrical productions in the coming years, always in the Perche and always with this commitment to artistic quality and popular accessibility.