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Pierre Jourdan produced between 1968 and 1977 more than ten
operas or tragedy films for cinema and television (Phèdre,
Tristan and Isolde, Aïda, Norma, Fidelio...). In 1982, he
was the executive producer, the general manager of editing and
the vocal director for Carmen directed by Peter Brook. In
1984-1985, he produced with Eve Ruggieri (Antenne 2) seven
broadcasts dedicated to the French lyrical singing. Then, he
directed La Ciboulette, composed by Reynaldo Hahn, in
Monte-Carlo, Montpellier and Nancy, and adapted for television.
In 1986, he produced eight broadcasts about the story of the
Festival d'Aix-en-Provence with Gabriel Dussurget and all the
great names of lyric discovered in Aix. In 1988, he founded the
Théâtre Français de la Musique and the association Pour le
Théâtre Impérial in the Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne. Every
year, he directs and produces different lyric works with the
mission to rediscover the French musical and lyrical repertoire
from the post-baroque to nowadays and to restore an authentic
French style to the singers and the orchestras which accompany
them.
In that way, between 1989 and 2000, the T.F.M. produced many
opera works, most of them directed by Pierre Jourdan: La
Légende de Joseph en Egypte by Méhul, Manon Lescaut (directed
by David Freeman), Le Domino Noir and Gustave III or Le Bal
Masqué (in concert version) by Auber, Henry VIII by
Saint-Saëns, Christophe Colomb (directed by C. Lulé),
Le Songe d'une Nuit d'Eté by Thomas, Le Déserteur by
Monsigny (directed by C. Daumas), La Colombe by Gounod,
Céphale & Procris by Grétry, Llanto por Ignacio
Sánchez Mejías by Stavros Xarhakos, Nozze di Figaro
(a French adaptation by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt), some operettas:
Une Education Manquée by Chabrier-Milhaud, La
Périchole by Offenbach... and French music-halls (J'aime le
Music-Hall).
In October 1998, he produced La Jolie Fille de Perth by Bizet;
in 1999, Pelléas & Mélisande in the first version for
piano solo by Debussy, La Légende de Joseph en Egypte by
Méhul, Les Diamants de la Couronne by Auber; in 2000, a Show
Jean Cocteau - Francis Poulenc, Trois Femmes, Trois Blessures
and a performance of different operetta extracts Folie Operette
(Offenbach, Lecocq, Messager, Chabrier...)
During the season 2000-2001, Pierre Jourdan created and staged
Le Visiteur, opera based on the text of the play with the
same name by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, set to music by the famous
Greek composer Stavros Xarhakos. In December 2000, he produced
again La Périchole with Élodie Méchain in the role title,
and his performance Folie Opérette.
Marking the 10th anniversary of the T.F.M. the season 2001-2002
saw the creation of La Jeunesse de Pierre le Grand by
Grétry and the revival of the Noces de Figaro, and especially
the staging in Barcelona of Henry VIII with Montserrat Caballé.
In 2004-2005, Pierre Jourdan created as a world première
Noé by Bizet and Halévy, Haÿdée by Auber and
Charles VI by Halévy. In October 2005, he stage Jean-Claude
Carrière in his monologue adaptation of L’Arlésienne by
Bizet and Djamileh by Bizet, in October 2006 Les
Caprices de Marianne by Sauguet, after Alfred de Musset, and
Fra Diavolo by Auber.
Pierre Jourdan who passed away on 16th August 2007, while
preparing for September 2007 a large lyrical concert dedicated
to Boieldieu and, for 2008, with the composer Stavros Xarhakos,
Cyrano & Roxane, a lyrical drama based on the text of the
play by Edmond Rostand adapted by Jean-Claude Carrière.
Pierre Jourdan was made a ‘Chevalier des Arts et Lettres’ in
1986, ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite’ in 1990 and
awarded the ‘Légion d’Honneur’ by the Minister of Culture
Jean-Jacques Aillagon in February 2003.
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