The Pelleas Connection
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2012 production of "Pelleas et Melisande" by the Opéra National de Paris
In a mysterious land of shadows and memories, a prince comes upon a frightened young woman in the woods—far from home and uncertain how she got there.
Despite her mysterious origins, the prince marries her—and then six months later, she falls in love with his half-brother—a cascade of events that leads to a tragic end.
Little known today, the 19th century symbolist play Pelléas and Mélisande fascinated Debussy, Faure, Schoenberg, Sibelius and others, prompting music that reflected the story’s world of inner conflict, in which nothing is clear—except ambiguity.
In this hour, what they made of it all.
FEATURED RECORDINGS
Title |
Group/Artist |
Catalog # |
UPC |
Faure: Pelléas et Mélisande, etc. |
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner |
Argo 410 552-2 |
028941055224 |
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht & Pelléas Und Mélisande |
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan |
Deutsche Grammophon 457721-2 |
028945772127 |
Sibelius: Scenes Historiques, Pelléas Et Mélisande |
Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam |
Chandos CHAN 9483 |
095115948323 |
Debussy: Pelléas & Mélisande Suite |
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado |
Deutsche Grammophon 289 471 332-2 |
028947133223 |
Wallace: Creation Symphony; Pelléas and Mélisande |
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins |
Hyperion CDA66987 |
034571169873 |
Scott: Overture to Pelléas and Melisanda |
BBC Concert Orchestra, Martin Yates |
Dutton Epoch CDLX 7302 |
765387730222 |
Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande |
Vienna Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado |
Deutsche Grammophon 435 344-2 |
028943534420 |