Joel Pommerat writes of his production of the Philippe Boesmans opera, Pinocchio: “Everyone has heard of Pinocchio. He has beome a legend. I have always sought inspiration for my work in the myths of which we ourselves are made. Not only is the story of Pinocchio a powerful one, but the myth of this character is still very much alive, even topical. Pinocchio is a paradoxical character. The moral of his story is not simplistic… Today, as I was ten years ago, I am touched by this story because it combines the exhilarating elements that belong in a tale, such as the epic, the marvelous, the quest as a rite of passage, and universality, as well as something harsher, more social, even political, and unsettling.” Philippe Boesmans’ goal was to be a composer like Wagner. At the age of 45, the self-taught and fiercely independent artist yielded to the allure of the world of opera. By the time he was 80 he had composed 8 operas which, following their premiere productions, have all been repeatedly performed in new productions in the most prestigious opera houses.