L’Avare

When Molière meets commedia dell’arte

Molière has always been a source of inspiration in Italy. But this Vecchio Avaro, created in Venice some fifty years after the original, was still unknown. Perfectly faithful to the spirit of comedy and condensed into three acts, Salvi’s libretto is brought to life by Gasparini’s delightful score, sung in its entirety.

Vincent Dumestre, who has been in dialogue with Molière since his memorable Bourgeois Gentilhomme 20 years ago, this time joins forces with director Théophile Gasselin to restore this Avare to its original freshness, that of a theatre troupe in shimmering colours. This will be the first staged production of the Festival de Beaune. Unmissable!

Program and cast

‘Prestige’ ticket: the best seats in the orchestra, with a complimentary glass of crémant before or after the performance.

The Festival bar is open in the theatre foyer one hour before and one hour after the performance.

Francesco Gasparini

L’Avare

Le Poème Harmonique

Intermezzo in three acts by Francesco Gasparini, based on a libretto by Antonio Salvi, adapted from Molière's L'Avare, premiered at the Teatro Sant'Angelo in Venice in 1720.

CAST

Éva Zaïcik, Fiammetta
Victor Sicard, Pancrazio
Serge Goubioud, Scarabea
Stefano Amori, Valletto

Théophile Gasselin, director
Louise Caron, set design
Alain Blanchot, costumes
Christophe Naillet, light design

Le Poème Harmonique
Vincent Dumestre, conductor

1h20 without intermission
In Italian, with French surtitles

New production, premiered at the Théâtre de Caen on 3 March 2026