The Opéra de Monte-Carlo is staging a new production of Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, a cornerstone of French lyric repertoire, at the Salle Garnier across four performances from 22nd to 28th February.
Under the musical direction of Kazuki Yamada, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and Monte-Carlo Opera Chorus bring to life this emblematic work where Maurice Maeterlinck’s poetic text meets the delicate and mysterious light of Debussy’s music.
The international cast features unanimously acclaimed voices: Huw Montague Rendall as Pelléas, Lea Desandre as Mélisande, Gerald Finley as Golaud, Laurent Naouri as Arkel, Jennifer Courcier as Yniold, and Marie Gautrot as Geneviève.
The production reunites Jean-Louis Grinda for staging, Laurent Castaingt for sets and lighting, and Jorge Jara for costumes. Stefano Visconti serves as chorus master.
Dream, destiny and the unknown
Pelléas et Mélisande, a major work of 20th-century French repertoire, reveals a universe where the unfathomable meets musical transparency, offering audiences a lyric experience of rare depth suspended between dream, destiny and the shadow of the unknown.
Debussy’s only completed opera, premiered in Paris in 1902, broke with conventional operatic forms through its use of continuous music, spoken prosody and orchestral subtlety. The work’s impressionistic score creates atmosphere through suggestion rather than statement, perfectly complementing Maeterlinck’s symbolist libretto about forbidden love, jealousy and fate in a timeless medieval setting.
The production marks another significant presentation of French lyric repertoire at the Salle Garnier, continuing the venue’s tradition of showcasing masterworks that demand both vocal excellence and theatrical sophistication.
Performance schedule
Performances take place Sunday 22nd February at 3pm, Tuesday 24th February at 8pm (gala performance), Thursday 26th February at 8pm, and Saturday 28th February at 8pm at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
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