Canadian soprano Elisabeth Boudreault takes us to Lausanne, Switzerland where she is singing Jemmy in Opéra de Lausanne‘s season opener Guillaume Tell (info and tickets here).
Elisabeth is a Québec native who is currently making a name for herself in the European scene. She has performed with Opéra National du Rhin, Opéra National de Lorraine, Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg, Opéra de Rouen, Opéra Comique and at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. She is a four-time winner of the Canadian Music Competition and laureate of the Vienna International Competition and the Wirth Vocal Prize.
While in Switzerland, Elisabeth shares her outdoor adventures, where to get the best ramen and what she and her furry companion look for in an apartment. Read on to find out more.
City where you’re working?
Lausanne, Switzerland.
How long are you working on contract?
This is my first time working in Lausanne! The cast arrived on August 26th for our first musicale, and our final performance is on October 15th, so we have just under a month and a half to bring the entire production of Guillaume Tell together.
What’s the opera house like?
The ambiance and the company here are both exceptionally wonderful. I remember sitting down for lunch on one of the first few days and being struck that everybody — from the costume, the stage crew to the administration — were having a massive laugh together and sharing coffee and dessert. It’s been that delightful every day since! The theater itself is very pretty, with a shallow auditorium but high ceilings, which gives us the chance to really explore details, both musically and theatrically. Bruno Ravella (director) and Francesco Lanzillotta (conductor) are making the most of this, and it’s incredibly exciting.” [See below for a quick tour of the Lausanne Opera House].
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Where is the most peaceful place in the city?
Without a doubt, the shores of Lake Geneva that are nestled at the foot of the town. Taking a swim on a sunny day while admiring the mountains on the far side — it doesn’t get much more peaceful than that!
Best coffee or tea?
Café Bel-Air has a wide selection of beans, and the decor is very nice! I love brewing my own coffee with my AeroPress, so I’m always on the lookout for quality beans. I also have to mention The Greek Project (on the way to the theatre…) — they make the best chocolate banana bread. I’m obsessed!
Coolest bar or restaurant you’ve been to?
Doki Doki — their ramen is out of this world! I also have to mention Rumah, a charming Malaysian restaurant. You really can’t go wrong with either!
An activity you have done that is unique to the area?
There’s so much to discover in this area. Just yesterday, some castmates and I spent the entire day exploring Montreux. We went for a short hike, enjoyed lunch by the lake, and visited the stunning Château de Chillon. Between the natural beauty of the lake, the mountains, and the rich history of the region, it feels like there’s always something new to experience.
Is there something unexpected that happens locally that you discovered? Taxed bin bags and driving fines — Switzerland definitely has its unique systems! Since it’s my first time here, I had no idea you can only dispose of any non-recyclable rubbish in special taxed bin bags (hence the name). If you want to be lazy with your recycling triage, then you end up having to pay for it. And here the driving fines are proportional to your income. I think it’s brilliant!
How did you find your accommodation?
I found my apartment through singer friends who had performed here before.
What’s the most important thing you think of when it comes to finding accommodation as a singer?
There’s always a lot to consider when choosing a place to stay for a gig. Since I travel with my dog, I need to find pet-friendly accommodations, which adds an extra layer of planning. I also look for a flat that’s comfortable but still affordable — good natural light, for instance, really helps me feel at home. Safety is another priority since I travel alone, and ideally, I’m not too far from the theatre!
Have you had a chance to explore some galleries or museums?
We’ve been really fortunate with the weather so far, which has made me more eager to explore the outdoors rather than the museums. But I do have a few exhibitions on my list for when autumn calls, and my first stop will definitely be the Collection de l’Art Brut.
Is there anything you recommend beyond what we’ve asked here?
If you’re planning an opera trip, the Opéra de Lausanne should be at the top of your list. The city and its surroundings have so much to offer. This year is especially exciting, as it’s Claude Cortese’s debut as head of the opera, and the season is absolutely phenomenal. As a bonus, you can catch fellow Canadians Marie-Eve Munger in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Philippe Sly alongside Jean-Marie Zeitouni in Carmen.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ELISABETH BOUDREAULT
VISIT HER WEBSITE
©Elisabeth Boudreault
Lausanne
©Elisabeth Boudreault
Swimming in Switzerland
©Elisabeth Boudreault
Château de Chillon
Guillaume Tell
Opéra de Lausanne
October 6-15
WILHELM TELL: Jean-Sébastien Bou
MATHILDE: Olga Kulchynska
ARNOLD: Julien Dran
JEMMY: Elisabeth Boudreault
HEDWIGE: Géraldine Chauvet
MELCHTAL/WALTER FURST: Frédéric Caton
GESSLER: Luigi De Donato
RUODI, A FISHERMAN: Sahy Ratia
RODOLPHE: Jean Miannay
UN CHASSEUR: Warren Kempf
LEUTHOLD: Marc Scoffoni
Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne directed by Francesco Lanzillotta
Chœur de l’Opéra de Lausanne directed byAlessandro Zuppardo
DIRECTOR: Bruno Ravella
SET DESIGN: Alex Eales
COSTUMES: Sussie Juhlin-Wallén
LIGHTING: Christopher Ash
CHOREOGRAPHY AND STAGE DIRECTION ASSISTANT: Carmine de Amicis
Wilhelm Tell unfolds between lake, forest and mountains from its famous opening, exposing the characters in its drama to the storms of history and the torments of thwarted love. This great heroic fresco recounts the episodes of the Swiss struggle against the Austrian occupiers. Gioachino Rossini draws his inspiration as much from the beauty of natural forces as from the theme of freedom, the common thread running through this great opera, whose four acts follow the founding events of Swiss history, as structured by Friedrich von Schiller in the tragedy that gave rise to the libretto.
Rossini departs from the bel canto tradition here, yet his music remains vibrantly lyrical. The title role is given to a baritone, who embodies the gestures of the legendary and daring archers. Yet the tenor of the story is not to be outdone, entrusted by the composer with the virtuoso arias of Arnold, the Swiss patriot in love with the beautiful Mathilde, Princess of Habsburg.
With all his Italian successes behind him and having settled in Paris, the much-admired Rossini thus brought his dizzying career as an opera composer to a close in 1829 with this final work that would durably inspire French grand opera.
This season opener is a real event, presenting the Opéra de Lausanne’s very first Wilhelm Tell, in which two great artists – Francesco Lanzillotta as conductor and Bruno Ravella as director – make their debut with this poetic, spectacular production.
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