Aimez vous Debussy? Towards new Pelléas at Opéra Comique in Paris
Opéra Comique in Paris is preparing to unveil their last new production this season: Pelléas et Mélisande, produced by Stéphane Braunschweig. The premiere is scheduled for next Monday - June 14.
While his recent Ring in Aix was swinging from OK-ish [Die Walküre] to downright bad [Die Götterdämmerung], and his Don Carlo --remember the opening of the 2009 Season at La Scala?!-- turned into a global operatic failure [nevertheless released on DVD], I believe Brunschweig will be excellent in a more introspective work such as Debussy's Pelléas. In any case, this is one of the shows not to be missed this month in Paris.
A sneak peek at the Braunschweig's Pelléas et Mélisande -- Opéra Comique in Paris
Here is a short trailer...
Both he and Gardiner rightly point out at the size of auditorium at Opéra Comique as an important initial condition to provide a necessary intimacy for this opera to fully work with public.
Sir John Eliot Gardiner will conduct his Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique; in the role of Pelléas we're ready to "discover" Phillip Addis; Karen Vourc'h should be good Mélisande; Marc Barrard --who's got a good career going on in France but who I've never listened to-- will sing the role of Golaud...
Ed: There was an initial deal to live broadcast this show on Mezzo-TV on June 24. Whatever happened past several days, the announcement made on the Mezzo.tv was removed. I'll keep you posted on further developments (if any)...
Labels: Addis, Braunschweig, Debussy, Gardiner, Opera Comique, Vourch
Mei June 9, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Really looking forward to this production, it's my replacement for the totally sold-out La donna del lago, I bet it will worth it...
Opera Cake June 9, 2010 at 5:10 PM
Mei, so sorry you couldn't find any ticket. I went to the box-office this Monday to ask if they had any ticket returned or... and they almost laughed at me.
There will certainly be some people selling their tics in front of the theater on the day of performance, AND the touts who --in spite of the police control-- will be selling the tickets for two times the normal ticket price.
Hope Pelléas and Die Walkure will be good a consolation :)
Mei and Opera Cake,
What is sad is that 'La donna del Lago' has sold out but not 'Pelleas et Melisande'
Isn't Debussy's opera incomparably superior to the Rossini ?
Opera Cake June 12, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Jon, Rossini and Debussy were not contemporaries and represent completely different styles, so I don't think it's fair or reasonable to compare them. They were both great in their own ways, and the operas of both of them can very well coexist today. ;)
As for the sold out shows, Comique will be full too. It's just that La donna involves 3 big stars of bel-canto [with Colin Lee fitting like a glove with the rest] which was a big attractor. Plus this opera is performed very rarely...
Peace out!
Hi OC,
I won't argue with any of that. It's just that no other opera thrills me more than 'Pelleas et Melisande'. I'm in Paris for the week and have tickets for the premiere (Monday), Wednesday and Friday.
Perhaps I'll see you.
Are you here @ opera comique? They delayed the show for 30 min as a sign of protest by the house's employes... Happily it's nice weather so it's ok waiting half hr. If you're around do send an email.
Opera Cake June 16, 2010 at 12:26 PM
And J? Did you like the show?
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