Raphaël Pichon conducts Zaide or The Path of Light — With Sabine Devieilhe, Lea Desandre, Julian Prégardien, and more

Experience an exquisite all-Mozart evening at the 2025 Salzburg Festival! An exceptional cast of soloists joins forces with the Pygmalion Choir and Orchestra under the baton of Raphaël Pichon, alongside a dance duo performing choreography by Evelin Facchini. This Salzburg smorgasbord brings together unforgettable moments from the fruitful years 1779-85 including Zaide, an unfinished Singspiel initially composed for an opera company Emperor Joseph II had established in Vienna. The composition explores the love story of two European slaves, Zaide and Gomatz, who try to escape from their captive Turkish sultan’s court. Sabine Devieilhe dazzles as Zaide, Julian Prégardien’s lyrical tenor perfectly embodies her beloved Gomatz, and Lea Desandre steals scenes as their daughter Persada. The production also incorporates other contemporaneous works like Davide Penitente, a sacred cantata for soloists, choir, and orchestra; and Thamos, König in Ägypten, incidental music that Mozart composed for Tobias Philipp von Gebler’s eponymous heroic drama.

Photo © Marco Borelli