On January 15, the Opéra de Rouen will host the French premiere (with libretto into French) of the Expo Opera Milo, Maya et le tour du monde (Milo and Maya around the world), a contemporary opera for young audiences (ages 6 to 14) written by Matteo Franceschini on a libretto by Lisa Capaccioli. The opera tells the story of an imaginary round-the-world trip that two 13-year olds undertake through the ethnic restaurants of a large city. Through the dishes they encounter the young protagonists get to know the tastes and customs of various cultures.

The world premiere of Milo and Maya around the world (which took place last February in Como with libretto into Italian) has been developed within the European project Interactive Opera where specially tailored education initiatives prepare students to engage with the piece and the performers. Directed by Caroline Leboutte, the opera is a coproduction of different European institutions (Associazione Lirica e Concertistica Italiana di Como-AsLiCo; Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Liége (BE); Theater Magdeburg (GER); and the Opéra de Rouen – Haute Normandie (FRA). After the French premiere Milo and Maya around the world will have its Belgian premiere (Liège, 17 February) and German premiere (Magdeburg 28 May).