Puccini's Il Trittico at the Opéra Bastille: an opera in three acts to discover in Paris

From April 29, 2025, theOpéra national de Paris welcomes Il Trittico, one of Giacomo Puccini's most singular projects. Comprising three operas in one act, this lyrical triptych explores the many facets of the human condition, blending contradictory emotions and contrasting styles. For this new production, director Christof Loy, in his first collaboration with the Paris Opera, proposes an unexpected order of presentation, reversing the classical progression from the comic to the tragic. The show is presented at theOpéra Bastille, in a 3h40 version with two intermissions.

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Initially conceived as a coherent whole, Il Trittico brings together three independent stories, each with its own narrative and musical universe. Gianni Schicchi, a gritty comedy set in medieval Florence, would open the show with a farcical, satirical tone. This would be followed by Suor Angelica, an intimate, spiritual tragedy set in a convent, marked by interiority and redemption. Finally, Il Tabarro would conclude the evening on a sombre note, between passion, jealousy and despair, in a working-class setting on the banks of the Seine.

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This inverted structure would highlight the range of human emotions, from lightness to gravity, giving a renewed reading of this cycle often presented in reverse order. Puccini would deploy his full palette: expressive lyricism, biting humor, poignant melancholy.

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This show would appeal to opera lovers in search of a complete and contrasting experience, but also to spectators curious to discover the art of opera in its many forms. The diversity of registers and the relative brevity of each act could make it an excellent gateway for less initiated audiences. On the other hand, the show's total running time of around four hours would require a certain degree of availability.

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With Il Trittico, Puccini offers a lyrical work with many faces, between farce, contemplation and tragic passion. This new production at theOpéra Bastille promises to be a complete immersion in the Italian composer's universe, supported by a staging that turns expectations on their head. It promises to be a rare, lyrical event, where emotion is expressed in three phases.

This article is based on information available from the Opéra national de Paris. The show has not been viewed.

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