Claude Debussy

Pelléaset Mélisande

PRESSKIT

18th January - Live broadcast

With the support of

MADAME BRIGITTE LESCURE

Musical director Direction and choreography

Stage design and concept Costumes designer

Lighting designerVideo

DramaturgyMusical dramaturgy

Choir master

PelléasMélisande

GolaudArkel

GenevièveYniold

Un médecin / un berger

Jonathan NottDamien Jalet et Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Marina Abramović Iris van Herpen Urs Schönebaum Marco BrambillaKoen BollenPiet De VolderAlan Woodbridge

Jacques Imbrailo Mari Eriksmoen Leigh MelroseNicolas Testé Yvonne Naef Marie LysJustin Hopkins

Dancers from Grand Théâtre BalletGrand Théâtre de Genève ChoirOrchestre de la Suisse Romande

Production created at Opera Vlaanderen in 2018

18 January 2021 on broadcast on GTG.CH, RTS.CH and then on OperaVision and TV5 Monde.

Pelléas et Mélisande

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PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE

For the first time, Marina Abramović creates a set design for an opera project; the famous artists Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet create the mise en scène and choreography; Iris Van Herpen designs the costumes… the Pelléas et Mélisande production at the Grand Théâtre de Genève is one of the highlights of the 20-21 season. It will be streamed in live streaming on gtg.ch on January 18th at 7.30 pm, and on demand on RTS, OperaVision and TV5 Monde TV channel .

We assemble this exceptional team to stage a production of this eminently symbolic “dramatic opera” conceived in 2018 at the Opera Vlaanderen in cooperation with the Grand Théâtre. True creative forces are involved in the project. The emblematic performance-art figure Marina Abramović conceived the crystalline stage design for this Pelléas et Mélisande. Artists who require no introduction – Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet – created the direction and choreography. The plastic artist and director Marco Brambilla filmed the video art for the piece. The haute couture designer Iris Van Herpen fashioned the spectacular costumes. Together, this dream team reinvents the symbolist opera to produce an intriguing, surrealist, dreamlike, cosmic fable.

NEW ORCHESTRA SETTING AND BROADCASTBecause of the pandemic, the production will be presented in a special format. The filming of the première is slated for January 18th in coproduction with Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) for a broadcast on multiple supports on Opera Vision and TV4 Monde. The orchestra will also adapt to a special format, reclaiming six rows of seats in the stalls. The musicians of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR) will spread out to keep at a safe distance under the artistic direction of conductor Jonathan Nott.

IN THE OSR'S REPERTOIRE The only opera composed by Debussy – based on the work by Maeterlinck –, will be played by one of the best formations for this repertoire, the OSR, led by its official conductor and a reference in the genre, Jonathan Nott. He upholds the founding guardianship of the French-speaking Ernest Ansermet, who directed the works of the Grand Théâtre in 1946, 1950, 1952 and 1963. Like Isolde in the opera of Wagner, Mélisande is promised to one man (Golaud) but is in love with another (Pelléas),

who also loves her. The dramatic opera explores passion and jealousy, cumulating in a tragic ending.

Some of the soloists are also great names. The young Norwegian soprano Mari Eriksmoen, who has appeared on great opera stages throughout Europe, plays Mélisande. Jacques Imbrailo, a South African tenor who has already created a sensation as Pelléas in Zurich and Antwerp, returns to the leading role in Geneva. The British baritone Leigh Melrose – who recently played the role at Rurhtriennale – portrays Golaud. On stage, the dancers of the Eastman company, led by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, join others from the Ballet du Grand Théâtre to present a symbolist choreography. Their movements bring to mind the chorus in ancient Greek theatre, making a connection between the action and the audience.

Far from Italian verism and realism, Debussy’s opera incorporates Freudian psychoanalysis. The unconscious and dream interpretation bring the unexpressed to centre stage, reflecting it through symbols. Golaud, who is unable to decipher his wife’s perspective, becomes mad with a jealousy that blinds him, while the love between her and Pelléas is invisible yet palpable. Their intimate dialogues mingle with the breath of the world to add a cosmic, spiritual dimension. The energies assembled around this production draw on strong, meaningful elements to depict an inner world that is also universal, reinforced by the dark, mysterious crystal-filled décors of Marina Abramović and the video installation of Marco Brambilla. “Our consciousness is extremely dissociated from our energetic sources; I seek to restore it,” he explains. In charge of the mise en scène and scenography, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet draw on this background to evoke perpetual renewal. “At the end of the opera, the mystery of Mélisande is passed along to her granddaughter, and we can sense that Golaud will live on in the form of his son, Yniold. This continual movement – the cycle of life – speaks volumes about the human condition,” asserts Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

Abramović, Cherkaoui, Jalet… A trio of choice for Pelléas et Mélisande

Grand Théâtre de Genève – 20-21 season

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Pelléas et MélisandeImages de la production

© RAHIREZVANI

INFORMATIONS

Contacts

PRESSE SERVICE INTERNATIONALOlivier GurtnerPress Officero.gurtner@gtg.ch+41223225026

Isabelle JornodAssistanti.jornod@gtg.ch+41223225055

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