45 minutes before the bells call you into the house, it’s time to refresh your memory and go back to the beginnings of the opera: we offer a brief introduction to remind you what the work is all about and what kind of magical, apocalyptic, critical or hyper-realistic worlds the people behind the production have in store for you. Lickety-split, there’s just enough time to grab some bubbly before you take your seats under the star-studded ceiling of a thousand and one operas!
 
45 minutes before each performance
Free admittance with performance tickets
Foyer of the GTG

About Saint François d’Assise
There is something messianic about Messiaen. Pure coincidence or determinism? Come and make up your own mind at the Aperopera about the figure of the Catholic ornithologist composer, brilliant improviser and titular organist of the grand Trinité organ in Paris. The program includes Le courlis cendré, the last song in the Catalogue d’oiseaux, a foretaste of Preaching to the Birds, and two of his Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus, a lengthy composition for piano that introduces the motifs of joy, love and the cross that you’ll find in the work tableau, a one-of-a-kind opera by Saint François d’Assise. Swiss pianist Cédric Pescia is back with one of his favorite composers. Messiaen’s writing will soon hold no secrets for you. Join the ranks of the initiated!
 
Thursday, March 21, 2024
At 6:30PM
Entrance fee CHF 25.-
First drink included (except cocktails and champagne)
Foyer of the GTG

Have you ever attended a rehearsal at the GTG? The creation of an opera requires a series of rehearsals before the première: piano dress rehearsal, Italian dress rehearsal, dress rehearsal… We invite you to attend a “Stage and Orchestra”. What is it?
It’s a rehearsal in which the singers and orchestra rehearse scene by scene in the presence of the director and accompanied by the orchestra, to check the coherence between the voices, the music and the staging. This is a unique opportunity to observe the work of the artistic teams and to discover excerpts from Olivier Messiaen’s unique and monumental opera.
 
And for those who would like to learn more, a discussion with director Adel Abdessemed (Stage Director, set design, costumes and video) will be held in the Foyers of the GTG after the rehearsal.
 
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 7:30PM
Door opening at 7PM
At the Grand Théâtre de Genève
Free admission on reservation
Places are limited!
 

Cinéopéra, as both a tribute to and a discovery of the silver screen, where four opera and ballet greats who will be on stage with us this season choose their favorite film to view and discuss.
 
For the last event of the season, Cinémas du Grütli present Le Grand Jeu (1934) by Jacques Feyder, presented by del Abdessemed.
 
Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 3PM
At the Cinémas du Grütli
 
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SAINT FRANÇOIS D’ASSISE – Fresque contemplative et scintillante
Une conférence de Christian Merlin
 
En cinquante ans de carrière, Olivier Messiaen s’était toujours tenu éloigné du genre opéra. En 1983, le pas est enfin franchi lorsque l’Opéra de Paris crée Saint François d’Assise, qui incarne la somme de son art.
Un des plus beaux rôles de baryton de l’opéra français, un orchestre immense, un foisonnement de rythmes, de couleurs et de chants d’oiseau : quatre heures de musique où la spiritualité le dispute à la sensualité.
 
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
At 6:30PM
Théâtre de l’Espérance
> plan d’accès
 
Prix d’entrée :
Gratuit pour les membres de l’association, les Ami-e-s du Grand Théâtre et les jeunes de moins de 30 ans
Non membre : CHF 15.-
AVS et chômage : CHF 10.-
 
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Discover the birds of Saint François d’Assise
It’s early spring, and the melodious notes of birdsong accompany the lengthening evenings.
 
Echoing this awakening of nature, the Grand Théâtre welcomes Olivier Messiaen’s only opera, Saint François d’Assise. Through the life of this legendary saint, friend and confidant of birds, Messiaen unfolds the scope of his passion for ornithology and his meticulous study of birdsong.
 
The Groupe Ornithologique du Bassin Genevois (GOBG) has joined forces with the Grand Théâtre de Genève to immerse you in this grandiose work, a highly topical ecological plea.
 
Discover some of the 34 birds featured in Saint Francis of Assisi, and unravel the mysteries of these winged singers. Why do they sing, and why is their song so fascinating? How can we recognize and protect them?
 
GOBG experts will answer all your questions during a fun and friendly activity, open to all with prior registration.
 
The GOBG is an association created in 2011, whose main missions are to monitor and conserve sensitive species in the canton and nationally, and to raise public awareness of local birdlife.
www.gobg.ch
 
Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 4PM
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 1PM
Free upon registration
Meet on the forecourt of the Grand Théâtre de Genève – Walk in the Parc des Bastions
 
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Haven’t you ever wondered what it’s like on the other side, when the curtain falls on a performance? How does all the technical machinery work? What do the stagehands have to do to get things back into working order? Or maybe just bump into one of the stars of the show?
 
So let us raise the curtain on all this for you. With every production, we give our patrons an opportunity to come backstage with us, raise their eyes to the flies and take a good look at what’s behind the sets. It may be dark in the wings but there’s a whole lot going on there! And because it’s a really busy place, we can’t really do this more than once per performance run. You will need to book your visit beforehand, so don’t delay!
 
A member of the theatre staff who can answer all your questions and show you some of the very impressive features of our opera house takes you backstage for free.
 
After the April 14 performance, a member of the theatre staff who can answer all your questions and show you some of the very impressive features of our opera house takes you backstage for free.
 
The “En coulisse” tour lasts about 20 minutes, starts 15 minutes after the performance, is free of charge on prior reservation with our box office service by email [email protected].