Language: English
Subtitles: French, German, Italian, Spanish

SEVEN STONES is an innovative Cappella opera written by young Czech composer Ondřej Adámek for 4 solo singers and a 12 solo voices choir Libretto by SJÓN Commissioned by the Aix-en-Provence Festival World! Invitation to travel through Argentinian, Icelandic, Japanese and French cultures, SEVEN STONES is a contemporary opera that pushes boundaries. Everything is set to live an original experience, halfway between the intimacy of the sung, spoken, whispered voices and the monumental quality of the sound installations forming the set.

A mineralogist-collector who has got lost down a snowy lane remembers: many years earlier, he had gone in search of the first stone – the one that was almost used to stone to death the adulterous woman who was saved by Christ. During this seven-year long journey that takes him from Buenos Aires to Paris and from Japan to Iceland, the collector discovered many other stones...

And the end of his journey leads to the conclusion of his quest – and to tragedy. Presenting this chamber fresco in the elegant red velvet atmosphere of the Jeu de Paume Theatre, Icelandic poet Sjón and Czech composer Ondřej Adámek tell a universal story that has the grace of our dreams and the force of our nightmares. Giving life to the shimmering precious stones of the opera in English are the voices of twelve choral singers from accentus and four soloists, who will be playing a number of surprising instruments and objects, some specially invented for this original, accessible and fascinating new production.

Director: Éric Oberdorff (Direction and Choreography), Ondřej Adámek / Léo Warynski (Music Direction)
Cast: Maid / Storyteller I: Anne-Emmanuelle Davy, Land Lady / Storyteller II: Shigeko Hata, Stone Collector: Nicolas Simeha, Stone Collector’s Wife: Landy Andriamboavonjy, Choir: accentus / axis 21