A creative house in Dijon

Step behind the scenes of the house to discover the creative and production process of the Opéra de Dijon …

Poster of Lucia di Lammermoor, 2009 production of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

First production

It was in 2009, in collaboration with the Opéra de Trèves, that the Opéra de Dijon produced its first show: Lucia di Lammermoor, by Donizetti. The adventure has continued ever since ...

Set design workshop of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Sets built on-site

The set and costume workshops of the Opéra de Dijon are essential resources for this creative house. The set workshop has the task of bringing to life a product imagined by the stage designer, in collaboration with the opera's director.

Model of the sets for La Flûte enchantée by Mozart by Alwyne de Dardel, Stage direction: David Lescot, and Musical direction: Christophe RoussetThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Miniature sets

It all starts with a scale model that the workshop teams need to translate into a plan, so that they can study the technical feasibility. These plans are then sent to the stage builders, who then start producing the set.

La Flûte enchantée by Mozart, 2017 production of the Dijon Opera (2017) by Mozart, Stage direction: David Lescot, and Musical direction: Christophe RoussetThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

And … action!

After having relocated and assembled the sets on the stage, rehearsals can begin.

Set design workshop of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Three domains of construction

It takes around 10 people per project, as well as a manager for each domain. The opera is about craftsmanship, too!

Metallurgy area of the Dijon Opera workshopsThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Here, the metalwork department takes care of the metal and aluminum structures.

Carpentry space in the workshops of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

The joinery department handles all of the wooden structures. They need to meet the requirements for the staging, while also being solid enough to be dismantled, transported and reassembled!

Painting and decorations workshop of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

The decoration team handles painting, patina, and sculpting. The challenge is finding the right patina and the right materials that can be incorporated into the various lighting set-ups of the stage.

Costumes workshop of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

The costume workshop, just as much expertise

The costume designers also follow the requests of the director and the show's dramatic structure, by adapting the necessary parts of the costumes. Depending on the production, there can be 10 to 12 people working in the costume workshops, alongside the manager.

Costumes workshop of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Just like in the set workshops, there are specific sectors: corsetry, coupe floue (haute couture women's hairstyling), patina (work on textiles for piecing together different materials, a color, an aging effect, etc.), millinery, men's tailoring, or the period hairstyles.

Costumes workshop of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Before fitting, the costume designers use mannequin busts to put together the costumes. Thanks to measurement sessions and fittings with each performer, they then adapt the costume so that the performer is perfectly comfortable on the stage.

Actéon by Charpentier and Lully, 2013 production of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Each technical detail must be taken into account: quick costume changes between scenes, the way materials fall, the heat reactions of each fabric, care and upkeep conditions ...

Il Palazzo Incantato by Rossi, 2020 coproduction of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

12 years of productions

In total, over 50 shows have been produced or co-produced by the Opéra de Dijon and its workshops.

L'Opéra de la lune by Brice Pauset, 2012 creation and coproduction of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Opéra de la Lune | Brice Pauset

Creation and production by the Opéra de Dijon, 2012

El Prometeo by Draghi, 2018 production of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

El Prometeo | Draghi

Production by the Opéra de Dijon, 2018

Jenufa by Janáček, 2018 production of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Jenufa | Janáček     

Production by the Opéra de Dijon, 2018

Nabucco by Verdi, 2018 coproduction of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Nabucco | Verdi     

Coproduction by the Opéra de Dijon and the Opéra de Lille, 2018

Simon Boccanegra by Verdi, 2108 production of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Simon Boccanegra | Verdi     

Production by the Opéra de Dijon, 2018

Pygmalion by Rameau, 2018 coproduction of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Pygmalion | Rameau     

Co-production by the Opéra de Dijon, the Opéra de Lille, the Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and the Théâtre de Caen, 2018

La Finta Pazza by Sacrati, 2019 production of the Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

La Finta Pazza | Sacrati

Co-production by the Opéra de Dijon and the Opéra Royal / Château de Versailles Spectacles, 2019

Görge le rêveur by Zemlinsky, 2020 coproduction by Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Görge le rêveur | Zemlinsky

Co-production by the Opéra de Dijon and the Opéra National de Lorraine, 2020

Les Châtiments by Brice Pauset, 2020 creation and production of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Les Châtiments | Brice Pauset     

Creation and production by the Opéra de Dijon, 2020

Macbeth by Verdi, 2021 production of Dijon OperaThe Grand Theatre and Opera House of Dijon

Macbeth | Verdi     

Production by the Opéra de Dijon, 2021

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