THE BERGEN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, BIT20 ENSEMBLE AND LA CHAMBRE AUX ÉCHOS PRESENT
La Passion de Simone

A chamber work about a philosopher and political activist.

Philosopher and teacher Simone Weil (1909–1943) grew up in a middle-class Jewish family in Paris but nonetheless sympathized with the radical workers' movement. She joined the Spanish civil war and was a member of the French resistance during World War II.

The main character in La Passion de Simone is a modern-day figure who reflects upon Simone's ideals. What might we learn from someone who, in an attempt to understand and fight violence and oppression, tried uncompromisingly to put herself in the place of its victims?

In the course of the opera's monologue, we hear Weil's own voice, at a distance, mediated through an actor. A vocal quartet represents victims of and witnesses to human oppression. The ensemble members portray each tableau as an inner landscape. The work does not describe the philosopher's life as a series of chronological events; instead, it indicates a way of thinking. It is an agnostic prayer for human values and collective memory. 

Kaija Saariaho music
Amin Maalouf text

La Chambre aux échos concept and artistic direction
Clément Mao - Takacs musical direction
Aleksi Barrière stage direction

Pauline Squelbut scenographer/stage manager
Étienne Exbrayat lighting design
Liisa Nieminen costumes
Clémentine Marin production administrator

BIT20 Ensemble

Sayuri Araida solo soprano

Vocal ensemble: 
Sandra Darcel soprano
Marianne Seleskovitch mezzo-soprano
Johan Viau tenor
Romain Dayez bass-baritone

Isabelle Seleskovitch actress

KAIJA SAARIAHO (1952–)
La Passion de Simone
Norwegian premiere

Introduction at 18:45. Details TBC. 

No interval
Duration 1 hour 10 min.

Supported by FINNO and Norwegian-Finnish culture fund.