The reform of Italian opera in the 18^th century was largely inspired by French theatre, and Molière resounded on opera stages.

Consisting of three singing characters and a fourth mute one, accompanied by a light orchestral ensemble, Il Vecchio Avaro is an intermezzo (the most famous example of which remains Pergolesi’s La serva padrona, protagonist of the famous Querelle des Bouffons in 1752). Salvi, the librettist, who had already drawn inspiration from Molière’s theatre (from Le Bourgeois gentilhomme in L’artigiano gentiluomo and from Le Malade imaginaire in Il malato immaginario), achieved the feat of staying faithful to the spirit of Molière’s comedy without losing its comic strength, even though the work is reduced from five to three acts and entirely sung.

Gasparini’s music illustrates this delightful libretto in the most expressive and immediately appealing way.

If music and Molière’s theatre had already interacted for Le Poème Harmonique in the most intimate of ways, in 2004 with the première of Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, here they merge in a spectacular union of lyricism and farce. Through the recreation of this Il Vecchio Avaro, Vincent Dumestre and Théophile Gasselin are aiming to rediscover the beauty of this singular repertoire, and to prove that its charm still works for their contemporaries.

New Production by Le Poème Harmonique.
Co-produced by the Opéra Royal / Château de Versailles Spectacles, Théâtre de Caen, and Opéra de Rennes.
With the support of L’Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet.

Sets and costumes created by the workshops of the Théâtre de Caen.

Le Poème Harmonique is supported by the Ministry of Culture (DRAC Normandie), the Centre National de la Musique, the Normandy Region, the Seine-Maritime Department, and the City of Rouen.
Le Poème Harmonique is in residence at the Fondation Singer-Polignac as an associate artist.
For its projects in Normandy, Le Poème Harmonique receives support from the Haplotès Fund.

Intermezzo in Three Acts, with a Libretto by Matteo Salvi, after The Miser by Molière, Premiered at the Teatro Sant’Angelo in Venice in 1720.

New Production.

Show in Italian with French and English surtitles.

PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY : Best seats in house, you will receive a complimentary programme and a glass of champagne.

PRESTIGE CATEGORY : Excellent seats, you will receive a complimentary programme and a glass of champagne.

REDUCED RATE : applicable to under 26s, Chateau de Versailles Spectacles card holders and groups of more than 10 people (excluding special company offer).

GROUP RATES : for more information, please refer to our page dedicated to works councils and groups.

In case of any technical problem, the box office service remains available to complete your order by phone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89 (Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm) or in our box office-shop (3 bis rue des Réservoirs, 78000 Versailles ; Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm, and on Saturdays with concerts or shows except during the Musical Fountains Shows, from 2pm to 5pm).

To ensure the best welcome possible, people with limited mobility are advised to book their seats by telephone.