From Opera Buffa to Contemporary Dance: Spring Blooms at the Opéra de Nice

March marks the full revival of the artistic season at the Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur, welcoming spring with a programme that brings together theatrical lightness and choreographic depth. Two distinct yet complementary events create a dialogue between opera and dance, tradition and contemporaneity.

From 11 to 17 March, Don Pasquale, the last and most sparkling opera buffa by Gaetano Donizetti, returns to the stage. At the centre of the plot is the wealthy and elderly Pasquale who, determined to disinherit his nephew Ernesto, decides to marry. His plan, however, turns into a spectacular failure thanks to the clever scheme devised by Norina and Doctor Malatesta.

Giuliano Carella is back on the podium, while Tim Sheader’s direction reimagines the story in a contemporary setting: Don Pasquale becomes a powerful manager obsessed with the myth of eternal youth. Inspired by the language and pace of TV series, the production combines irony, rapid storytelling and a visually striking monumental set. Federico Longhi and Mariam Batistelli stand out in the cast. The opera is sung in Italian with French and English surtitles, runs for two and a half hours, and tickets range from €12 to €94.

From 28 March to 5 April, the focus shifts to dance with Après la pluie, a diptych exploring loss and rebirth, performed with live accompaniment by the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra.

The first piece, Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven by Ulysses Dove, was created in 1993 to the spiritual music of Arvo Pärt and is presented for the first time in France. It is an intense and contemplative choreography, permeated by a profound sense of fragility and memory.

This is followed by Petrichor, the first creation by Pontus Lidberg for the Ballet of the Opéra de Nice, set to a concerto by Philip Glass. The title refers to the scent of the earth after rain and becomes a metaphor for desire and renewal, balancing musical minimalism with lyrical momentum in movement.

With this double bill, the Opéra de Nice reaffirms its commitment to weaving together repertoire and experimentation, welcoming spring under the sign of quality and innovation.