Fouché

A theatrical concert about a forgotten protagonist of the Franse Revolutie Joseph Fouch – a leading role in the shadows After the success of ‘Egmont’ and ‘Landru’, Het Banket and I SOLISTI join forces again. While that last music-theater performance is still drawing full houses, the creators are now focusing on the improbable but true life story of Joseph Fouch (1759-1820), the most unknown protagonist of the Franse Revolutie. Much has been written, sung, filmed, and told about that great revolution. Terwijl Robespierre, Marat, Napoleon, Danton, and Marie Antoinette fill the history books, Fouché always moved in their shadow. Nevertheless, he was at every moment in the focus of the historical developments of his time. He changed sides like underwear: from one radical extreme to the other. He was a Catholic seminarian in his younger years, but later showed himself to be a ruthless butcher of anyone who had anything to do with the faith. He defected from the Girondins to the Jacobins, the two extremes within the revolutionary movement. He was a fanatical royalist and then a militant anti-royalist. The once radical revolutionary Fouché later became a minister in the service of Napoleon and ended his career as minister of police under King Louis XVIII. Fouché’s life is full of blood-curdling plot twists. How is it possible that this man, who played such a decisive and bizarre role during one of the most turbulent periods of our history, has remained so unknown? Why is his exceptional story not told more often? Het Banket and I SOLISTI do not bring a dry history lesson, but let the people behind the dates come to life. In a mix of text, image, and new music by Frederik Neyrinck, Jan Decleir, Marjan De Schutter, a five-piece wind ensemble, and a soprano bring the story of Fouché to the stage. By putting a spotlight on this forgotten protagonist, they also shed light on the period in which we live now. After all, in recent years there has been a new interest in that fascinating period of our history. Probably because we have ended up in an era again in which our familiar society is shaking to its foundations.