Due to the concerns of COVID-19, the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles is forced to pospone this international symposium to November 19th and 20th, 2020.

This international symposium co-organised by the Sorbonne, Côte d’Azur, Rouen and Bretagne Sud universities, has as its theme the leitmotif of the Island in 17th & 18th century European drama. It will coincide with a performance of Marin Marais’ Ariane et Bacchus at the Paris Regional Conservatoire, in collaboration with the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles.

This international cross-discipline symposium aims to explore the theatrical, philosophical, political and aesthetic significance of the island leitmotif in European drama. The islands of Scio, Naxos, Ceylon, Kythera, Madeira, Macao and Madagascar featured on the stage will be studied in light of the geographical and anthropological environment of the time. There will also be an examination of how today’s theatre directors use the island leitmotif to comment on the World. The Paris CRR’s production of Marin Marais’ Ariane et Bacchus will serve as practical material to further the debate.