Pousser

Howard Moody's Opera - French Premiere

Push is a contemporary opera created in 2016 by British composer Howard Moody, known for his works at the intersection of classical music, theater, and collective participation. The opera was commissioned by the Battle Festival (Essex / UK), which uniquely celebrates the Battle of Hastings each year, in co-production with the Glyndebourne Festival.

Inspired by a true episode from World War II, Push tells the story of a child pushed out of a train by their mother to save their life. Far from a historical opera, it is a humanistic and sensitive fable about choice, resilience, and transmission. While the libretto evokes a context of conflict, the work diverges to deliver a poetic, universal, and timeless message that resonates with the values of the Millennium: hospitality, movement, shared heritage.

Push is an innovative, unifying project with a strong local impact: the French premiere will bring together at the Caen theater children from La Maîtrise and La Scuola de Caen, The Ensemble of the Opéra Normandie Rouen, three professional soloists, and amateur singers gathered for the occasion in a large "citizen choir."

Wednesday, June 16, and Friday, June 18, 2027, at 8 PM – performances for the public
Thursday, June 17, at 2:30 PM – school performance

Libretto and music by Howard Moody (1964), based on the true story of Simon Gronowski
French version by Benoît de Leersnyder

French translation of the opera, performed in French and subtitled in French

Ensemble of the Opéra Normandie Rouen
La Maîtrise de Caen, La Scuola de Caen
The citizen choir of the Caen theater
Camille Bourrouillou musical direction
Jeanne Desoubeaux staging
Jean-Christophe Lanièce Simon
Michèle Bréant Simon's sister
René Ramos First The guard

Practical Information: 

All audiences, from 10 years old,

Duration: 1h20

Caen Theater - Opéra Normandie Rouen - Company Maurice & the others