Opera
Music from Daniel Schell . Libretto from Daniel Schell, based on the novel by Amélie Nothomb, C. Albin Michel 1994
Création
December 11, 12 et 13 1997, XXe Théatre, Paris, during the Festival “Geste et Musique” director: Bruno Letort. Then in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lille, in March 1998. Command from the Ministère de la Communauté Française de Belgique. Creation in Brussels : Espace Senghor, September 25-26 1998.
Cast
Le professeur (50) : bass baryton Alain Blairon
Daniel (30) assistant of Le Professeur baryton Thierry Vallier
Marina (20), student from last year soprano Marie-Paule Fayt
Musical direction and keyboards : (Piano, harmonium, organ-synthetisiser) : Patrick Davin & Jean-Pierre Moemaers, in alternance.
Stage direction: Daniel Donies
Costumes: Christine Flaschoen
Light: Xavier Lauwers & Michel Delvigne
Make-up: Martine Lemaire
Production:L’L , Michèle Braconnier
Libretto & CD: live recording of “Les Combustibles” XXe Théatre, Paris, Décember 1997.
The creation in Theatre du XXe Paris was made with the help of Bruno Letort, France-Musique
The action
A cold winter, of a civil war (Sarajevo?). The Professeur and his Assistant Daniel discuss about art. Marina, fiancée of Daniel, enters. She 
freezes. They have nothing left to burn. They decide to burn the books. Which one will be the first. Which one the last?
Videos
Excerpt of ‘Les Combustibles , (15 min) Entrevues, Botanique, Brussels 1999
with : Therese Bouret (soprano) Alain Blairon (bass-barytone) , Thierry Vallier (barytone) . Piano: Jean-Pierre Moemaers
Libretto-Video The libretto in video