Pelléas et Mélisande

*"On Tuesday 15 March the role of Golaud will be played by Alexandre Duhamel, replacing Simon Keenlyside for health reasons."

“Si j’étais Dieu, j’aurais pitié du cœur des hommes” (“If I were God, I would take pity on the hearts of men”)  (Arkel, Pelléas et Mélisande, Scene I, Act IV)

Pelléas et Mélisande, based on the Symbolist play by Maeterlinck, occupies a unique place in the history of opera. Though it met with total incomprehension from critics and the musical world in general after its Paris premiere, its dream-like idiom endows it with great magnetism and power.

Radio France Musique will broadcast the 08 March performance from Barcelona on 09 April at 20.00 hrs local time. Available to listen on demand for 7 days after the broadcast

.

The performance of Pelléas et Mélisande on 08 March was recorded for broadcast on Spanish radio station Radio Clásica at 20.00hrs local time on Sunday 20 March.

Link to Radio Clásica live

The first night of Pelléas et Mélisande will be broadcast live on Radio Catalunya Música at 19.00 hrs local time on 28 February

Link to Radio Catalunya Música live

A selection of Pelléas et Mélisande rehearsal photos can be seen on the Liceu's Facebook page by clicking on this link

Watch Simon and his fellow cast members discussing their characters in Pelléas et Mélisande in this short video

More information and tickets

SOUNDBITES

"...A su lado, el Golaud de Simon Keenlyside, que demuestra una vez más que es una bestia de la escena....."

"...By his side, Simon Keenlyside's Golaud, proving once again that he is a stage animal..."

"...Golaud's capital - a superlative baritone like Simon Keenlyside, with impeccable diction and simply masterful interpretive nuances...."

"...Absolutament efectiva la veu del baríton Simon Keenlyside com a Golaud, aprofitant tots els matisos d’un personatge que va canviant al llarg de l’òpera, des de les primeres i tendres seduccions amb Mélisande fins a la desesperació i violència que li suscita la seva gelosia per la relació d’ella amb Pelléas...."

"...The voice of baritone Simon Keenlyside as Golaud is absolutely effective, taking advantage of all the nuances of a character that changes throughout the opera, from the first and tender seductions with Mélisande to the despair and violence that arouses his jealousy of her relationship with Pelléas...."

"...El camaleónico barítono Simon Keenlyside fue un Goulad temperamental y de gran interés teatral....."

"...The chameleonic baritone Simon Keenlyside was a temperamental Goulad of great theatrical interest..."

"....Pocos cantantes poseen hoy en día la autoridad del barítono británico Simon Keenlyside, quien atesora ya a su espaldas más de tres décadas de actividad profesional. Intérprete años atrás de la versión baritonal del personaje de Pélleas, estas funciones en el Liceu suponían su primera tentativa con el papel de Golaud. Con un oficio consumado y con unas dotes actorales extraordinarias, Keenlyside brindó de hecho los momentos de mayor tensión dramática de la noche, como en su escena perdiendo los papeles con el pequeño Yniold o en su humillante acusación hacia Mélisande, sacudiéndola por el pelo ante los ojos de Arkel. Qué manera de colorear la voz, la de Keenlyside; qué asombrosa evolución de su Golaud, a lo largo de toda la función. Impagable el artista británico, una vez más...."

"...Few singers today have the authority of the British baritone Simon Keenlyside, who already has more than three decades of professional activity behind him. Interpreter years ago of the baritonal version of Pélleas's character, these performances at the Liceu were his first attempt with the role of Golau (sic). With a consummate craft and extraordinary acting skills, Keenlyside actually provided the most dramatic moments of the night, as in his losing his temper scene with little Yniold or in his humiliating accusation towards Mélisande, shaking her by the hair before Arkel's eyes. What a way to colour the voice, Keenlyside's; what an amazing evolution of Golaud by him, throughout the entire performance. Priceless British artist, once again....."

"...Destacó, y mucho, Simon Keenlyside como Golaud; el barítono no sólo estuvo soberbio en la ejecución, sino que la exigencia del papel le llevó a cincelar un personaje ambiguo y perturbador, pero absolutamente atrayente en el plano psicológico y concediendo unas soluciones variadas. ..."

"...Simon Keenlyside as Golaud stood out a lot.  The baritone was not only superb in execution, but the demands of the role led him to carve out an ambiguous and disturbing character, but absolutely attractive on a psychological level and granting varied solutions...."

"...Also extraordinary was Simon Keenlyside’s Golaud, his voice worked perfectly in style and diction, but he was also the best actor on stage and filled his ambivalent character with apt subtleties...."

Translations by Google Translate