Les Dinos et l'Arche, a Darwinian opera, a dystopian fable
Music by Thomas Leininger (*1981)
Libretto by Cédric Costantino (*1974) and Tina Hartmann (*1973)
World premiere in French at La Cité Bleue
Alas, dinosaurs, the dream of children of all ages, have disappeared. Of course, books tell us that a meteorite devastated the planet. But what if the dinosaurs missed Noah's Ark because of a sundial that was misaligned by the clouds? In this musical fable, as funny as it is profound, Charles Darwin himself, with his charming iguana rescued from the Galápagos archipelago, travels back in time to give the great reptiles a second chance. Aboard a fantastic ship, the dinosaurs set off in search of a magical plant that could save them from the Flood by transforming them into birds...
Part satire, part tender tale, Les Dinos et l'Arche brings together humans, animals and extinct creatures in a changing society that is a distorted but revealing mirror of our own. In a whirlwind of emotions, absurd dialogue, bursts of laughter and spectacular transformations, it becomes clear that dinosaurs are forced to adapt to survive in a world doomed to extinction... Does that ring a bell?
With a colourful cast, a ten-piece orchestra and Julien Condemine's inventive staging, this mini-opera, reminiscent of a journey through space and time, draws on the Baroque heritage to question our own era. Visually daring, musically delightful, and brilliantly conducted by Leonardo García-Alarcón, Les Dinos et l'Arche is an opera for curious minds of all ages.
Warning: some scenes contain strobe effects that may affect photosensitive viewers
Tuesday, 3 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 4 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 6 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 7 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets Price A
Category 1 Category 2
Full Price 65.- 55.-
AVS/Unemployment 55.- 45.-
Young & Students (<26 ans) 35.- 25.-
Carte 20ans/20francs 25.- 20.-
AI/Reduced Mobility 30.-
1 hour 20 minutes, no intermission
Thomas Leininger, composer
Cédric Costantino and Tina Hartmann,booklet
Cédric Costantino, Myrielle Schnewlin & Thomas Leininger,French adaptation
Julien Condemine, direction
Nikolett Kuffa, assistant director
Margaux Blanchard, dramaturgy
Hélène Fief, scenography
Sylvain Wavrant, costumes
With the participation of Maison Vermeulen, plumassier
Sylvain Séchet, light design
Leonardo García-Alarcón, musical direction
Jacopo Raffaele, assistant musical director
Ariel Rychter, assistant score
Cappella Mediterranea
Vocalists:
Mariana Silva, Darwin's iguana / Noah's wife
Sebastià Peris, Darwin / Noah
The dinosaurs:
Daria Novik, Brachiosaurus
Valérie Pellegrini, Struthiomimus
Julia Deit-Ferrand, Triceratops
Diego Galicia Suárez, Archaeopteryx
Charles Sudan, Anatosaurus
Baptiste Jondeau, Parasaurolophus
Oscar Esmerode, Velociraptor
Raphaël Hardmeyer, Tyrannosaurus
Mammals:
Sarah Matousek, Cat
Lidija Jovanović, Kangaroo
Bastien Masset, Rat
Félix Le Gloahec, Dog
Vincent Meyer supports Cappella Mediterranea's artistic programming at La Cité Bleue.
In co-production with Cappella Mediterranea.
This production benefits from the generous support of His Highness the Prince and Her Highness the Princess of Chimay for the artistic residency at the Château de Chimay.
With our thanks to Margareta Nordin and the Municipality of Savennières (FR) for the creation of the costumes.
With the support of a Swiss foundation.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Ages 10 and up
