Seven: the number of minutes by which these textile factory workers must agree to cut their daily fifteen-minute break. Drawing inspiration from the fight led by the employees of the last Lejaby factory in France, in Yssingeaux, Haute-Loire, Giorgio Battistelli’s opera offers a wise take on issues pertaining to job insecurity due to budget cuts. Up to which point is it acceptable to work? Up to which point must workers put their lives in jeopardy?
Pauline Bayle, known for her shows anchored in our current era, directed this socially-conscious opera, with modern, contemporary, and original music specialist Miguel Perez Iñesta as musical director for the vocal ensemble.
This opera about strong democratic issues is a lucid and powerful social chronicle of our time.
Language
Sung in Italian with French subtitles
Opera in 3 acts
Libretto written by the composer,
based on Stefano Massini’s play 7 Minuti
Premiered at the Opéra national de Lorraine in 2019
New production
This opera is part of the Lyon / Creative City UNESCO literature program