Pelléas et Mélisande

Synopsis

Music of introverted tenderness and a libretto that hints at much and offers few answers – such is Pelléas et Mélisande, Claude Debussy’s only completed opera. Dubbed “Drama lyrique” by the composer himself, and written in 1902 at a time when the subconscious, the psyche, dreams and urges commanded the attention of science and art, this music searches the souls of its characters with ist subtle nuances. Pelléas and Golaud are half-brothers, each loving the girl-from-nowhere Mélisande. The elder, dominant Golaud makes her his wife; the younger Pelléas is the soul-mate of the taciturn, strangely vulnerable Mélisande and an equally mysterious bond of concealed love is formed between them. The consummately precise staging by Nikolaus Lehnhoff has a cast to match these wondrous sounds. This exceptional production “achieves […] what actually can only be understood as magic.” (Die Welt)

Additional Info

• No: A05050011
• Composer: Debussy
• Conductor: Stefan Soltesz
• Orchestra: Essener Philharmoniker
• Artists: Wolfgang Schöne, Doris Soffel, Jacques Imbrailo, Vincent Le Texier
• Production year: 2012
• Run time: 02:31:00
• Director: Stage Director: Nikolaus Lehnhoff
• Producers: A production of Favo Filmproduction for UNITEL CLASSICA in cooperation with Aalto Musiktheater
• Format: HDTV 16:9