Karina Canellakis dirigeert Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande

Mysterious music

He completed only one opera, but with it he brought about a musical revolution in France and Europe. Pelléas et Mélisande , first performed in Paris in 1902, is based on the symbolist play of the same name by the Ghent author Maurice Maeterlinck. Debussy wrote mysterious and atmospheric music for it. In doing so, he made use of, among other things, the whole-tone scale, which evokes an almost disorienting experience for the listener.

voyage of discovery

The role of Mélisande is sung by a lyric soprano, in this case the French-Catalan Lauranne Oliva. Pelléas is a so-called Baryton-Martin, a high baritone reaching up to the tenor voice. The central role of Golaud is performed by baritone Stéphane Degout, who was a guest at the Matinee last season with Pygmalion. This special production is conducted by chief conductor Karina Canellakis, who continues her journey of discovery through the extraordinary opera repertoire in Amsterdam.