La Quête de Merlin

Who has never heard of Merlin? Visionary, adept at metamorphosis, a genius builder linked to animals, the forces of nature and telluric impulses, this character, although spawned by the devil, has never ceased to inspire literature, cinema, music and painting.

This enchanter with a complex personality is a fascinating character, like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. Drawing inspiration from medieval storytellers such as Robert de Boron and Chrétien de Troyes, François Lazarevitch, founder of Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, librettist Vanessa Bertran and composer Benoît Menut have created La Quête de Merlin, a show for an actor and four instrumentalists. The viola da gamba, along with flutes, bagpipes, harp and accordion, illuminate with music the epic journey of this illustrious magician in search of a place and a meaning to his life.

Benoît Menut draws on a rich heritage of ancient written works and traditional Celtic themes to create an original soundtrack that spans the centuries. This sound ensemble accompanies and comments on the major stages of a fabulous destiny, that of this mythical character who brings us into contact with King Arthur, Viviane and Lancelot. In the spirit of a magical and fascinating vigil, this richly textured show, sometimes sung, will take us on a journey through the legends.

Is there a bit of Merlin in you? Come and discover it in music, and don’t forget your courage on the way, knights for a night.

Distribution

Vanessa Bertran: libretto
Benoît Menut: compositions and arrangements of Celtic and early music
Daniel san Pedro: stage direction
Clément Desoutter: costumes, magic vision
Alban Sauvé: lighting design
Laura Cottard: stage management
Matéo Esnault: sound engineer
Based on an original idea by François Lazarevitch

Olivier Debbasch: actor, singing, dance
François Lazarevitch: flutes, smallpipes
Vincent Lhermet: accordion
Bérengère Sardin: ancient harp
Garance Boizot: viola da gamba

Sound show
Created on 7 May 2024 at the Volcan – scène nationale du Havre

Partners

Coproduced by Le Volcan – scène nationale du Havre, Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing.
Thanks to the Comédie Française for the loan of props.

La Quête de Merlin
Music : Benoît Menut
Passbook : Vanessa Bertran
© 2024 – Éditions Musicales Artchipel