The new production of Pelléas et Mélisande is directed by Guy Joosten, who in his staging has sought inspiration in the Danish feature films The Celebration (directed by Thomas Vinterberg) and Dogville (directed by Lars von Trier). Guy Joosten, who made his debut appearance at The Met in New York in 2005, has formerly staged Massenet's Werther at the Royal Danish Theatre and has received a number of accolades for his stage direction.
"Pelléas et Mélisande is an opera about lost souls trying to find the truth in life. But in the search they notice that they are afraid of the truth and that they want to escape from it - they cannot love in the dark and they cannot live in the light. And so they keep wandering trying to get closer to each other - but they never really succeed, as they are not able to find any truth within themselves." Guy Joosten.
The very promising Swedish mezzo-soprano Elisabeth Jansson - one of the great talents in recent years to have graduated from the Royal Danish Opera Academy in Copenhagen and who gave a riotous performance as Rosina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Seviglia at the Royal Danish Opera - will perform the female title role as Mélisande. Baritone soloist with the Royal Danish Opera Palle Knudsen will perform the male title role as Pelléas.
The last leg of the dramatic love triangle - Mélisande's jealous husband Golaud - is played by Johannes Mannov, who has recently appeared in JanáÄÂek's VÄ›c Makropulos and Richard Strauss' Elektra at the Royal Danish Opera.
Stephen Milling will alternate with Anders Jakobsson in the role as Arkel, Anette Bod performs Geneviève; and Vibeke Kristensen from the Royal Danish Opera Academy in Copenhagen plays the part of the child, Yniold.
Leading the Royal Danish Orchestra from the podium is American conductor Karen Kamensek. This will mark her first appearance at the Royal Danish Theatre. She has held the position as Music Director at the opera in Freiburg and has also conducted at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin in addition to the operas in Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Vienna.
Set design is by Johannes Leiacker and Jorge Jara has created the costumes. Lighting design is by Davy Cunningham.
Premiere is on 25 February 2007, 3 pm, Performances are on 25 and 28 February and 04, 07, 09, 12, 17, 21, 23, 28, 31 March 2007. An enigmatic encounter between soul mates in despair. -- www.kglteater.dk
Posted February 15th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
