Since its foundation in 1999, the mission of Académie Desprez consists of contributing to the range of influence of Drottningholms Slottsteater and its collections. By taking the theatre life and practice at Drottningholms Slottsteater as an intellectual programme, Académie Desprez aims at developing an innovative approach to the stage arts by leading works in research and practice.

Further reading upon the Académie Desprez

Drottningholms Slottsteater is a rare place and unique of its kind in the world. This masterwork of Swedish architecture has remained intact since the XVIIIth century. Registered by the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, the Theatre, the Palace and the surrounding area were recognized as being of international cultural heritage significance. Drottningholms Slottsteater provides direct access to ancient arts and skills that, otherwise, could only be read about. This experience is the start of Académie Desprez’s perception of the Age of Enlightenment.

Further reading upon Drottningholms Slottsteater and Sveriges Teatermuseum

Académie Desprez called itself by adopting Louis-Jean Desprez's name, a French XVIIIth century architect and painter, summoned in Stockholm by the king Gustave III. Beside numerous architectural realisations in Sweden, he designed Drottningholms Slottsteater's foyer as well as many theatre sets and costumes. By taking Desprez's career and comprehensive works as a reference, Académie Desprez defines itself as a meeting and exchange media for artists and amateurs, historians and practitioners.

Further reading upon Louis-Jean Desprez

Académie Desprez's working programmes are focused on æsthetics of the Age of Enlightenment. Research programmes are inspired by Drottningholm, Gustave III and Desprez. Grants are attributed to establish new relationships between theory and practice. Next to the activity of research, experimentation develops an understanding of creative processes. The knowledge of arts in the XVIIIth century becomes comprehensive through the concrete experience of reconstruction.

Further reading upon the Académie Desprez's works

Artists and craftsmen working at Drottningholms Slottsteater rediscover their predecessors’ daily gestures; members of the Académie Desprez –scholars, artists and patrons– contribute to put into question, with their work, and to give life, with their practice, to this precious heritage.

 Further reading upon the forecasted 2005-2007 programme

Gilbert Blin,
Fondateur de l'Académie Desprez

Productions 2010:

• Mozart’s La finta giardiniera,
  première on May 30th 2010

• Mozart’s Don Giovanni,
  première on July 31st 2010

For more information

2009
Giovanni F. Busenello & Claudio Monteverdi
L’incoronazione di Poppea

2008-2009
Antonio Ottoboni & Alessandro Scarlatti
La Giuditta

2007
N. Haym after P. Quinault & G. F. Haendel
Teseo

Management:

Groupe de Soutien