L'Échappée Lyrique

A traveling opera under a tent

L'Échappée Lyrique was a unique festival of its kind, born from the desire of the Compagnie l'Opéra-Théâtre to bring lyrical art closer to audiences far from major cultural venues. Under the artistic direction of André Fornier, the company acquired a magnificent tool for creation and dissemination in 2005: a circus tent. It was in this atypical setting that L'Échappée Lyrique took shape, offering lyrical performances in a warm and intimate atmosphere.

Travel as a common thread

Each edition of the festival was built around the theme of travel. The shows presented under the tent carried the idea of movement, encounter, and discovery, exploring the lyrical repertoires of the five continents. This original approach allowed for connections to be made between musical cultures from around the world, from European comic opera to the most distant vocal traditions.

Rooted in the Loire region

Located in Saint-Germain-Laval, on the esplanade of the Greyzolon Duluth cultural center, the festival radiated throughout the Loire department for several autumn editions. The Compagnie l'Opéra-Théâtre, the departmental stage of the Loire, developed a multidisciplinary festival here, combining opera, musical theater, dance, and shows for young audiences under a heated tent.

A multidisciplinary program

The programming of L'Échappée Lyrique combined lyrical productions from the company with guest performances, offering a rich and varied artistic palette:

• Operas and comic operas re-orchestrated for small ensembles, accessible to all audiences
• Musical theater and original creations by the Compagnie l'Opéra-Théâtre
• Dance performances, particularly hip-hop, in dialogue with the lyrical repertoire
• Object theater and clown shows for young audiences
• Outreach activities for schools, music and dance schools, and amateur practitioners

A commitment to cultural democratization

L'Échappée Lyrique embodied the fundamental mission of the Compagnie l'Opéra-Théâtre: to disseminate lyrical art in territories far from the cultural structures of urban centers. André Fornier wanted to reach a new audience, without prior access codes to lyrical art, and to offer many spectators their first encounter with a lyrical performance. The tent, a friendly and accessible space, helped to break down the barriers that can exist between the audience and opera.

Memorable editions

Among the festival's highlights, the 2nd edition in the Loire (2009) hosted the family opera Les Frasques du capitaine Le Golif, dit Borgnefesse in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, performed by the Compagnie l'Opéra-Théâtre and the Concert de l'Hostel Dieu, as well as hip-hop dance and theater performances. The 3rd edition (2010) celebrated gypsy and bohemian notes and voices with the comic opera La Zingara (The Bohemian), object theater, and clown shows in Saint-Germain-Laval.