Cyrano de Bergerac

Cyrano de Bergerac
Eino Tamberg’s opera in three acts based on Edmond Rostand’s play

Composer Eino Tamberg
Librettist Jaan Kross
Musical director and conductor Risto Joost
Conductors Martin Sildos, Taavi Kull
Director, set and costume designer, author of lighting and video design concept Mare Tommingas
Lighting designer Andres Sarv
Video designer Juho Porila
Head chorus master Aleksandr Bražnik
Chorus master Kristi Jagodin
Concert masters Piia Paemurru, Margus Riimaa, Katrin Nuume
Director’s assistant Merle Jalakas

Cast Raiko Raalik (NO Estonia) or Simo Breede, Pirjo Jonas or Maria Listra (guest), Oliver Kuusik (guest) or Juhan Tralla (guest), Tamar Nugis (NO Estonia) or Atlan Karp (guest), Rasmus Kull or Heldur Harry Põlda (NO Estonia), Grete Oolberg or Siiri Koodres, Märt Jakobson (guest) or Taavi Tampuu (guest), Karmen Puis or Sandra Laagus (guest) and others.
The men’s chorus of the Vanemuine opera choir and the Vanemuine symphony orchestra


This play was written by Edmond Rostand in 1897 and premiered the same year at Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin. It takes place in the middle of the 17th century Paris, telling the story of a big-nosed and impulsive swordsman Cyrano who is as talented with his language skills as he is with his rapier.

Compared to Rostand’s play, the opera focuses on the three lead characters – the poet and soldier Cyrano; the object of his affection, Roxane; and the cadet Christian. What is left unsaid is filled by Tamberg’s wonderful melodies, pauses and crescendos, painting allusions to the fragility and tragedy of their dream of happiness.

The story of Cyrano de Bergerac has inspired over forty adaptations in theatre, television and elsewhere. In 2020, London National Theatre premiered a production with James McAvoy as the lead; the movie Cyrano with Peter Dinklage as the title character was released in 2022.

Did Rostand create Cyrano or the other way around? The border between a creation and its creator is very fragile. When one takes over from the other is actually not important. What is important is to understand the message.
– director Mare Tommingas

For the title role in Eino Tamberg’s opera Cyrano de Bergerac, Raiko Raalik received the Estonian Theatre Award for Music in 2024.

Premiere on 22 April 2023 at the Small Building of the Vanemuine Theatre
Language: Estonian
Surtitles: English, Estonian
Attention! Limited visibility from rows 2 – 4 of side balcony in Small Building of Vanemuine.