Opera: The Three Robbers

The Three Robbers - Didier Puntos Opera in nine scenes with prologue and epilogue. Libretto by Gilles Rico based on Les Trois Brigands by Tomi Ungerer. Commissioned by Opéra national du Rhin. World premiere. Touring opera. As night falls and darkness envelops the forest, mysterious silhouettes mingle among the twisted shadows of the trees. Three men, in black capes and tall hats, prowl the night like ghosts. The whole forest falls silent and begins to tremble when they appear. The first, Maximus, wields a big red axe. The second, Felix, carries a pepper-blower. The third, Dominik, is armed with a blunderbuss. These aren’t the typical robbers you see on stage—or even in story books for that matter! Every night they terrorize wealthy travelers, rob them, and hide their loot in a cave. But their textbook life of crime is turned upside down when they encounter an orphan girl lost in the woods... French author and illustrator Tomi Ungerer has captivated generations of children with his picture books, which have sold thousands of copies worldwide. Fascinated by his whimsical work, the Opéra national du Rhin commissioned composer Didier Puntos to write a new chamber opera set in the world of one of Ungerer’s best-known titles, Les Trois Brigands (1961). Also inspired by Ungerer’s life and other works, the libretto recounts a playful story told by an eccentric narrator that is brought to life on stage like a comic book. Co-written by Gilles Rico and Jean-Philippe Guilois, it will be performed by young artists from the Opéra Studio and the Haute école des arts du Rhin (HEAR). Come and discover this spirited interpretation during the regional leg of our opera tour. In French. Duration : 1h without interval. Age limit : from 6 years.