Les Dinos et l'Arche, a Darwinian opera, a dystopian fable
Music by Thomas Leininger (*1981)
Libretto by Cédric Costantino (*1974) and Tina Hartmann (*1973)
World premiere in French at La Cité Bleue
Alas, dinosaurs, the dream of children of all ages, have disappeared. Of course, books tell us that a meteorite devastated the planet. But what if the dinosaurs missed Noah's Ark because of a sundial that was misaligned by the clouds? In this musical fable, as funny as it is profound, Charles Darwin himself, with his charming iguana rescued from the Galápagos archipelago, travels back in time to give the great reptiles a second chance. Aboard a fantastic ship, the dinosaurs set off in search of a magical plant that could save them from the Flood by transforming them into birds...
Part satire, part tender tale, Les Dinos et l'Arche brings together humans, animals and extinct creatures in a changing society that is a distorted but revealing mirror of our own. In a whirlwind of emotions, absurd dialogue, bursts of laughter and spectacular transformations, it becomes clear that dinosaurs are forced to adapt to survive in a world doomed to extinction... Does that ring a bell?
With a colourful cast, a ten-piece orchestra and Julien Condemine's inventive staging, this mini-opera, reminiscent of a journey through space and time, draws on the Baroque heritage to question our own era. Visually daring, musically delightful, and brilliantly conducted by Leonardo García-Alarcón, Les Dinos et l'Arche is an opera for curious minds of all ages.
Warning: some scenes contain strobe effects that may affect photosensitive viewers
Tuesday, 3 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 4 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 6 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 7 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
1 hour 20 minutes, no intermission
Thomas Leininger, composer
Cédric Costantino and Tina Hartmann,booklet
Cédric Costantino, Myrielle Schnewlin & Thomas Leininger,French adaptation
Julien Condemine, direction
Nikolett Kuffa, assistant director
Margaux Blanchard, dramaturgy
Hélène Fief, scenography
Sylvain Wavrant, costumes
With the participation of Maison Vermeulen, plumassier
Sylvain Séchet, light design
Leonardo García-Alarcón, musical direction
Jacopo Raffaele, assistant musical director
Ariel Rychter, assistant score
Vocalists:
Mariana Silva, Darwin's iguana / Noah's wife
Sebastià Peris, Darwin / Noah
The dinosaurs:
Daria Novik, Brachiosaurus
Valérie Pellegrini, Struthiomimus
Julia Deit-Ferrand, Triceratops
Diego Galicia Suárez, Archaeopteryx
Charles Sudan, Anatosaurus
Baptiste Jondeau, Parasaurolophus
Oscar Esmerode, Velociraptor
Raphaël Hardmeyer, Tyrannosaurus
Mammals:
Sarah Matousek, Cat
Lidija Jovanović, Kangaroo
Bastien Masset, Rat
Félix Le Gloahec, Dog
Vincent Meyer supports Cappella Mediterranea's artistic programming at La Cité Bleue.
In co-production with Cappella Mediterranea.
This production benefits from the generous support of His Highness the Prince and Her Highness the Princess of Chimay for the artistic residency at the Château de Chimay.
With our thanks to Margareta Nordin and the Municipality of Savennières (FR) for the creation of the costumes.
With the support of a Swiss foundation.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Ages 10 and up
Secondary credits
- Thomas LeiningerCompositeur
- Cédric Costantino et Tina HartmannLivret
- Cédric Costantino, Myrielle Schnewlin & Thomas LeiningerAdaptation française
- Julien CondemineMise en scène
- Nikolett KuffaAssistante à la mise en scène
- Margaux BlanchardDramaturgie
- Hélène FiefScénographie
- Sylvain WavrantCréation costumes
- Estelle BoulAssistante costumière
- Jeanne Tanguy, Lila BouetStagiaires costumes
- Maison VermeulenPlumassier
- Sylvain SéchetCréation lumières
- Jenny JolyMaquillage et coiffure
- Benjamin BroilletHabillage
- Leonardo García-AlarcónDirection musicale
- Jacopo RaffaeleAssistant à la direction musicale
- Ariel RychterAssistant à la partition
- Sébastien LampisRégisseur plateau
- Thierry BonvinRégisseur son
- Frédéric BourdeauDirecteur technique
- Atelier du Lignon, atelier des décors de théâtre de la Ville de GenèveConstruction des décors
- Emmanuel BrunPeinture des décors
- Romane Buffat, Sébastien Turbet, Julien Fragassi, Marvin MassonÉquipe peinture ponctuelle
- Sur scène
- Mariana da Silva Ferlital’iguane de Darwin / la femme de Noé
- Sebastià PerisDarwin / Noé
- Les dinosaures
- Charles SudanAnatosaurus
- Valérie PellegriniStruthiomimus
- Oscar EsmerodeVélociraptor
- Daria NovikBrachiosaurus
- Julia Deit-FerrandTricératops
- Raphaël HardmeyerTyrannosaurus
- Diego Galicia SuárezArchæoptéryx
- Baptiste JondeauParasaurolophus
- Les mammifères
- Sarah MatousekChat
- Lidija JovanovićKangourou
- Bastien MassetRat
- Félix Le GloahecChien
- Lucía García Floresbébé iguane
- Cappella Mediterranea
- Pablo Agudo LópezPremier violon
- Paloma Martin BalmoriViolon
- Mathurin BounyViola
- Karolina PływaczewskaVioloncelle
- Massimo PincaContrebasse
- Gala Kossakowski BaladrónFlûte traversière
- Camille AndréClaire Thomas - Hautbois
- Fabio Lo Curto, Romane OllivierClarinette
- Donatien BachmannBassoon
- André Ribeiro Pinto da Costa, Arthur MichelCor
- Jacopo RaffaeleClavecin
- Isabelle CornélisPercussions
- Patricio Amezcua ZilliStagiaire HEM Maestro al Cembalo



