The adventure of Reunion island first settlers.
In 1665, a group of adventurers (1 French and 7 Malagasy) leave Fort-Dauphin in Madagascar to plant tobacco and aloes in Mascarenne (today isle of La Reunion). Louis Payen, the leader of the expedition, discovers that his foreman, Jean Managna, is also lusting after the pretty Marie-Maraina. Jean escapes and leads the group of Malagasy in the heights of the island, marries Maraina and proclaims himself king, while approaching a fleet of the sun king (Louis XIV).

Created on Reunion Island in November 2005, it was performed again in December 2006, and was a tremendous success with the public, and was hailed by the critics. This first ever Indian Ocean opera brought together performers from the whole region (including 8 performers from Madagascar) and overseas (4 from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Tahiti, France-Algeria) for a composition by Jean-Luc Trulès blending classical, Creole and Malagasy rhythms. Emmanuel Genvrin’s libretto explores the myth of Reunion Island’s first Franco-Malagasy inhabitants in the 17th century. In June and July 2007 Mariana received an enthusiastic welcome in Tananarive and Fort Dauphin after a memorable 800km long taxi-brousse trip. In October 2008 the opera was performed again at the Jean Vilar Theatre at Vitry-sur-Seine in front of an audience of 1500, with the Massy opera orchestra, backed up by musicians from Reunion and Madagascar and a choir from Ile-de-France brought together by the ADIAM of Val de Marne. A documentary (Laterit productions, directed by César Paes) based on footage shot in Reunion, Madagascar and at Vitry is currently in preparation. Whilst Jean-Luc Trulès and Emmanuel Genvrin are currently writing their second opera, CHIN, for 2010, performances of Maraina are planned for June 2009 at the Silvia Montfort Theatre (15th arrondissesment of Paris), in October at Saint Paul, Reunion Island

Complete video

Maraina, opera with English subtitles. - YouTube

What the press thinks :

"A captivating and colourful opus"
[T. Guyenne, Opéra magazine]

"A subtle fusion between contemporary music and Malagasy tradition"
[M.Steinmetz, l’Humanité newspaper]

"A marvellous and moving creation"
[A.Ruprecht, Gens de la Caraïbe, Madinart]

"Maraina gives rise to a new genre, the Indian Ocean opera"
[H. Rivelo L’Express de Madagascar]

"A mix of musics that have learned to live together, a leap forward for our common history"

[J. Talpin, Le Quotidien de La Réunion]

Press articles :

La Terrasse, juin 2009, Maraina opéra de La Réunion

L’Humanité 7 octobre 2008, La Réunion sur le mode lyrique

Opera Magazine janvier 2006, Comptes rendus à la scène : Maraina

Gens de la Caraïbe 5 nov 2008, Maraina, l’aventure des premiers Réunionnais

L’express de Madagascar 2 juillet 2007, La consécration pour l’opéra Maraina

Le Quotidien de La Réunion, 15 sept 2007, Vollard sur la terre des premiers Réunionnais

Mondomix sept 2008, Maraina matin d’outremer

Le Quotidien de La Réunion, 17 nov 2005, Vollard montre la voix de l’outremer

Press reviews :

Revue de presse (Réunion)

Revue de presse (Madagascar)

Press Kit (downloadable)

Lire ou télécharger le dossier de Presse

To learn more about the writers, follow these links :

The composer, click on Jean-Luc Trulès

The librettist, click on Emmanuel Genvrin

Image bank (can be downloaded) :

Jean (Steeve Mai), les Antanosy crédit photo Ph.Guerillot

Maraina (Aurore Ugolin) credit Ph Moulin

Antanosy et Maraina credit Ph Guerillot

Choeur des Colons, credit Ph Moulin

Louis (Karim Bouzra), Montaubon (Josselin Michalon), credit Ph Guerillot

Danse de Maraina (Aurore Ugolin) et les Antanosy, credit Ph Moulin

Colere de Ravelo (Landy Andriamboavonjy) credit Ph Guerillot

Maraina (Aurore Ugolin) en voron amboa, credit Ph Guerillot

Thomas (Arnaud Dormeuil) et les Antanosy, cerdit Ph Moulin

Thomas (Gilles Safaru)

Louis Payen (Karim Bouzra), credit Ph Guerillot

Emmanuel Genvrin

Jean-Luc Trulès

JL Trulès 2

Trulès-Genvrin