Les Troyens 2009
"Monumental operas deserve epochal stagings"
Carlus Padrissa's visually arresting 2009 staging of Berlioz's monumental *Les Troyens* transforms Valencia's Palau de les Arts into a colossal digital epic.
Director: Carlus Padrissa
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Les Troyens (2009) about?
Berlioz's grand opera follows the Trojan prince Aeneas as he escapes the burning city of Troy, carrying the future of Rome within him. Along the way, he battles fate, love, and betrayal—culminating in the legendary foundation of Carthage, destined to rise only to fall. The story blends ancient myth with operatic splendor, all rendered in a bold, modern visual language.
Who directed Les Troyens?
The production was directed by Carlus Padrissa, a visionary known for his boundary-pushing work with the Catalan theater group La Fura dels Baus.
Who stars in Les Troyens?
The cast features Lance Ryan as Aeneas, Gabriele Viviani as Cassandra, Giorgio Giuseppini as Choreas, and Oksana Shilova as Didon, among others.
Is Les Troyens (2009) worth watching?
If you love grand opera or are drawn to visually ambitious stagings, this is a must-see. Padrissa's high-concept approach may polarize purists, but the sheer scale and musical power make it unforgettable. The four-hour runtime is a commitment, but the experience lingers like an operatic colossus.
How long is Les Troyens?
The film runs 254 minutes, or just over four hours.
About Les Troyens (2009) — A High-Tech Epic of War, Fate, and the Fall of Troy
Carlus Padrissa's visually arresting 2009 staging of Berlioz's monumental *Les Troyens* transforms Valencia's Palau de les Arts into a colossal digital epic. The Catalan collective La Fura dels Baus reimagines the Trojan horse not as wood and rope but as a glowing virus-laden machine, injecting modernity into the ancient conflict—its cascading data streams and fiery destruction bridging centuries of myth. Swelling choruses and shimmering orchestral passages unfold with cinematic grandeur, while the second half shifts to Carthage, evoking epic romance and irreversible loss. The result is an audacious fusion of Baroque scale and contemporary spectacle, where every note and gesture feels grand enough to shake the rafters.
With a runtime stretching beyond four hours, Padrissa's vision demands patience but rewards with unrelenting intensity. Lance Ryan leads the cast as Aeneas, his stentorian tenor cutting through lush orchestration, while Gabriele Viviani and Giorgio Giuseppini anchor the dramatic core with gravitas. This isn't just an opera—it's an immersive experience where technology and tragedy collide, proving that even 19th-century masterpieces can pulse with today's urgency.