The Aix-en-Provence Festival presents Orfeo vacilla, a unique creation mixing opera and circus arts, to be discovered for free in June.
The Aix-en-Provence Festival, renowned for its audacity and lyrical excellence, is joining forces with the circus-theater company Rasposo and the International Center for Arts in Movement (CIAM) for a unique co-production: *Orfeo vacilla*. This daring rereading of the opera *Orpheus and Eurydice* by Christoph Willibald Gluck promises to merge the vocal power and the poetry of the acrobatic gesture. The performances will be held under the big top of the Compagnie Rasposo, installed at CIAM, from June 21 to 25, 2026. Offered as part of Aix-en-June, this free show aims to make lyrical and circus art accessible to as many people as possible, ahead of the festival’s summer programming.
A poetic rereading of the myth
Under the direction and staging of Marie Molliens, an emblematic figure of the contemporary circus, this creation deconstructs the ancient myth to explore its fragility. Far from the traditional passive figure, Eurydice is here embodied by a high wire and aerialist, symbolizing a form of “permanent resistance”. The character of Orpheus, for his part, is multiplied into a “moving identity”, interpreted by three artists with complementary disciplines: a circus corps, a countertenor in the person of Edu Rojas, and a tightrope walker. This fragmentation of the hero aims to transcend genre and explore the multiple facets of mourning, love and loss. The lyrical voice and the circus gesture intertwine to “celebrate the moment of no return and human vulnerability”, themes at the heart of this artistic proposition.
A unique musical universe
The musical atmosphere has been completely redesigned by Éric Bijon. The arrangement transports Gluck’s masterpiece, composed in the 18th century, into the sound universe of the barrel organ, creating an atmosphere that is at once popular, dreamlike and timeless. This original orchestration will be carried by the voices of the Aix-Marseille University Vocal Ensemble (EV’AMU), which anchors this major project in the local cultural and academic fabric. This collaboration between professional artists and university choir testifies to the Aix-en-Provence Festival’s desire to create bridges between disciplines and generations.
Practical information
The show *Orfeo vacilla* is recommended for a family audience, from 6 years old. The five performances will take place from June 21 to 25, 2026 at the CIAM in Aix-en-Provence. Entry will be completely free, but reservations will be required due to the limited number of places under the marquee. Registrations for this show, as well as for the entire Aix-en-June program, will open on Wednesday June 4, 2026. Spectators are invited to go to the official website of the Aix-en-Provence Festival on this date to reserve their seats.
