A Private Evening at Les Azuriales

Les Azuriales produces a small number of performances in the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild to support its other activities. They are only open to Sponsors and the Company of Angels. You can apply to join here .

Because the last row of the audience is closer than the conductor in an opera house, everyone is involved in the immediacy and emotion of the performance. The performances are accompanied by piano, which initially surprised many people who have subsequently been so drawn into the action that they believe that there is an orchestra.  The productions are produced by Diva Opera.

The ten photographs (and their captions) in this sequence show you what happens during an evening at Les Azuriales. 

Arriving at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild at any time from 7.30pm, the Alpes Maritimes plunging into the sea from Beaulieu to Bordighera, are laid out before you You are greeted by our young volunteer staff in their distinctive T-shirts who can provide you with a programme and direct you to the champagne bar The villa was bequeathed by the Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild to the Académie des Beaux Arts, on the condition that it kept 'the essence of a private salon' and that is what our evenings adhere to There are seven different delightful gardens for you to stroll in and enjoy the wonderful evening light Before the performance you can have glass of champagne while you gaze at the spectacular views over Villefranche Bay or towards Monaco Just before 8pm our young volunteers will show to your seats and you will be welcomed to the evening in the Villa's magnificent covered courtyard With only 200 seats in all, you are close enough in the front row to touch the singers and the back row is closer to the stage than the front row at most opera houses Night has now descended and during the interval there are further opportunities to visit the magnificent gardens and see the twinkling lights of the entire French Riviera You experience a thrillingly personal encounter with the operatic voice. Singing of exceptional quality and verve is made fully accessible by English and French surtitles Afterwards (about 10:45pm) on most nights there is dinner in the magnificent gardens. Our artists join our patrons for dinner thus adding to the intimacy of the occasion

 

Built upon the narrowest point of the isthmus of Cap Ferrat Beatrice de Ephrussi Rothschild's villa looks over the bay of Villefranche to the west and over the sea to Italy on the east. The villa, built under the personal supervision of Beatrice herself, houses an eclectic collection of fine art, furniture, porcelain all bequeathed by the Baroness to the Académie des Beaux Arts (a part of the Institut de France), on the condition that it was to "keep the essence of a private salon".

In the colonnaded covered patio, a perfect setting for opera, our audience experiences the eighteenth century intimacy of a private musical soirée, surrounded by precious works of art exactly as Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild intended. In the delightful gardens, a marvel in themselves, our guests stroll before the performance begins and during the interval and also where, under a balmy starlight sky, dinner after the performance is served.

For more information on the Villa - see its website.

Watch a Video about Les Azuriales

This video was made in 2007 by one of our young team, Tom Mustill, as part of his preparation for becoming a film maker. It shows you what happens during an evening.

 

Azuriales Bookings Summer 2013

Bookings for the 2013 Season are now open, subject to Terms & Conditions (please see Booking Information page).  Il Barbiere di Siviligia only available using the Booking Form.  Click below to see more options:

Tickets