Pelléas et Mélisande Is the Jan. 19, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande is the Jan. 19, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering eighth of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande revive Sir Jonathan Miller’s production, which was last performed Jan. 1, 2011: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018

Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande is the Jan. 19, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the eighth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

French Impressionist composer Achille-Claude Debussy (Aug. 22, 1862-March 25, 1918) set his musical score for Adriana Lecouvreur to a French libretto by Belgian playwright and writer Maurice Maeterlinck (Aug. 29, 1862-May 6, 1949). Maeterlinck’s literary source was his same-named, five-act, Symbolist play, which was published in a first version in Brussels, Belgium, by Paul Lacomblez in 1892.

Maeterlinck’s play premiered May 17, 1893, at Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Paris, France. Founded in 1855 by German-born French composer Jacques Offenbach (June 20, 1819-Oct. 5, 1880), the Parisian theatre is sited on the Seine’s right bank (rive droite) in the 2nd arrondissement (2e arrondissement de Paris) at 4 rue Monsigny.

Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande premiered April 30, 1902, at Opéra-Comique in Paris, France. The premiere took place in the Parisian opera company’s Salle Favart, the third of three buildings located at the current site, 1 Place Boïeldieu, in the 2nd arrondissement (2e arrondissement de Paris).

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande took place March 21, 1925. Canadian operatic tenor Edward Johnson (Aug. 22, 1878-April 20, 1959) sang the title role of Pelléas. Spanish lyric soprano Lucrezia Bori (Dec. 24, 1887-May 14, 1960) sang the title role of Mélisande. Russian-born French artist and designer Romain de Tirtoff (Nov. 23, 1892-April 21, 1990), known as Erté, was costume designer for Lucrezia Bori’s Mélisande. Austrian American costume designer Gretel Urban (Jan. 7, 1898-Dec. 6, 1997) designed costumes for Edward Johnson and the rest of the cast.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season premiere of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande takes place Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Opening night marks the first performance of Debussy’s only completed opera at the Metropolitan Opera since Jan. 1, 2011.

Including the season premiere, five performances are scheduled for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season. All performances take place in January 2019. The month’s four additional performances are offered Saturday, Jan. 19, at 12:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 25, at 7:30 p.m.; and closing night, Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. The performance Saturday, Jan. 19, airs as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s eighth Saturday matinee radio broadcast.

The Metropolitan Opera’s production has an estimated run time of 3 hours 55 minutes during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season. Act I spans 68 minutes. An intermission of 30 minutes follows. Act II covers 36 minutes. An intermission of 30 minutes follows. Act III claims 71 minutes.

The Metropolitan Opera’s Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the first four performances. The Canadian conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2009, in the opera house’s 946th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875). During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Maestro Nézet-Séguin also conducts Dialogues des Carmélites by French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc (Jan. 7, 1899-Jan. 30, 1963) and La Traviata by 19th century opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Maestro Nézet-Séguin shares conductorship with Derrick Inouye, who conducts closing night’s performance, Jan. 31. The Vancouver, British Columbia-born conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 18, 2003, in the opera house’s fifth performance of Benvenuto Cellini by French Romantic composer Hector Berlioz (Dec. 11, 1803-March 8, 1869).

Isabel Leonard appears in the female title role for all performances. The American operatic mezzo-soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as Stéphano in the opera house’s 312th performance of Roméo et Juliette by 19th century French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Isabel Leonard also sings the title role in Marnie by American contemporary classical music composer Nico Muhly and appears as Blanche de la Force in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites.

Marie-Nicole Lemieux appears in all performances as Geneviève, Mélisande’s mother. The Canadian coloratura contralto’s performances in Pelléas et Mélisande mark her Metropolitan Opera debut. During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Marie-Nicole Lemieux also appears as Mistress Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Paul Appleby sings the male title role for all performances. The American operatic tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened May 7, 2011, as Brighella in the opera house’s 89th performance of Ariadne auf Naxos by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Paul Appleby also appears as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Kyle Ketelsen appears in all performances as Prince Golaud, whose unrequited love for Mélisande impels him to kill his brother and rival, Prince Pelléas.  The American bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 22, 2006, as Angelotti in the opera house’s 874th performance of Tosca by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Kyle Ketelsen also appears as Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen.

Ferruccio Furlanetto appears in all performances as Arkel, King of the mythical kingdom of Allemonde and grandfather of Prince Golaud and Prince Pelléas. The Italian bass made his Metropolitan Opera debut Feb. 26, 1980, as the Grand Inquisitor in Verdi’s Don Carlo. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Ferruccio Furlanetto also appears as Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande revive Sir Jonathan Miller’s production. The English opera and theatre director’s Metropolitan Opera directorial debut happened Feb. 25, 1991, in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Kát'a Kabanová by Czech composer Leoš Janáček (July 3, 1854-Aug. 12, 1928).

The Metropolitan Opera debut of Sir Miller’s new production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande took place March 23, 1995, in the opera house’s 91st performance of Debussy’s doomed love- and fratricide-themed opera. Sir Miller’s production team comprises Clare Mitchell, costume designer; John Conklin, set designer; and Duane Schuler, lighting designer. The production’s revival stage director is Paula Williams.

The takeaway for Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande as the Jan. 19, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is that the French composer’s mythical opera airs as the eighth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande March 21, 1925, featured Spanish lyric soprano Lucrezi Bori, costumed by Russian-born French artist and designer Romain de Tirtoff, known as Erté, and Canadian operatic tenor Edward Johnson, costumed by Austrian American designer Gretel Urban, in the title roles: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Aug. 22, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande revive Sir Jonathan Miller’s production, which was last staged Jan. 1, 2011: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160137120965533/

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande March 21, 1925, featured Spanish lyric soprano Lucrezi Bori, costumed by Russian-born French artist and designer Romain de Tirtoff, known as Erté, and Canadian operatic tenor Edward Johnson, costumed by Austrian American designer Gretel Urban, in the title roles: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Aug. 22, 2016, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10157433100150533/

For further information:

Chapman, Henry Grafton, trans. Pelléas et Mélisande: Drame Lyrique en 5 Actes et 12 Tableaux: A Lyric Drama in Five Acts and Twelve Tableaux de Maurice Maeterlinck. Musique de Claude Debussy. Partition Pour Chant et Piano Score for Voice and Piano. Textes Français et Anglais. Paris, France: Durand & Fils, 1907.
Available via HathiTrust @ https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015064160693?urlappend=%3Bseq=15

“Debut: Derrick Inouye.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 350848 Benvenuto Cellini {5} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/18/2003.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350848

“Debut: Ferruccio Furlanetto.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 260620 Don Carlo {117} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/26/1980.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=260620

“Debut: Isabel Leonard.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352067 Roméo et Juliette {312} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/25/2007.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352067

“Debut: Kyle Ketelsen.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351503 Tosca {874} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/22/2006.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351503

“Debuts: Gabriela Benacková, Peter Straka, Jonathan Miller, Robert Israel.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 303530 Kát'a Kabanová {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/25/1991.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=303530

“Debuts: Paul Appleby, Noah Baetge.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353993 Ariadne auf Naxos {89} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 05/07/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353993

“Debuts: Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Richard Eyre, Rob Howell, Irene Bohan, Elizabeth Caballero, Maria Kowroski, Martin Harvey.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353274 New Production Carmen {946} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/31/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353274

Grayson, David. “The Libretto of Debussy’s ‘Pelleas et Melisande.’” Music & Letters, vol. 66, no. 1 (January 1985): 34-50.

Marriner, Derdriu. “Adriana Lecouvreur Is the Jan. 12, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Jan. 7, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/01/adriana-lecouvreur-is-jan-12-2019-met.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Joseph Urban Designed Sets for 10 Metropolitan Opera Premieres.” Earth and Space News. Monday. Aug. 13, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/08/joseph-urban-designed-sets-for-10.html

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Debussy’s only opera, a mesmerizing meditation on love and betrayal, returns to the Met stage for the first time in almost a decade, with Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducting the landmark score. A pair of brilliant young Met stars, tenor Paul Appleby and mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, are the naïve title lovers. Opens January 15. Learn more: bit.ly/2C0fxv1 Photo by Ken Howard / Met Opera.” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160137120965533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Happy birthday, Claude Debussy! The French composer best known for his piano piece 'Clair de lune' also completed one landmark opera in his lifetime—Pelléas et Mélisande. The mesmerizing romance returns to the Met stage January 15 starring Isabel Leonard and Paul Appleby as the eponymous lovers. Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducts. Tickets: bit.ly/2wc46v4 Photo by Ken Howard / Met Opera.” Facebook. Aug. 22, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160940292715533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “ Happy birthday, Claude Debussy! Pictured here are Lucrezia Bori and Edward Johnson in a 1925 production of the French composer’s Pelléas et Mélisande. The opera, which premiered in 1902, tells the story of a love triangle between a woman lost in the forest, the Prince who finds her, and his half-brother with whom she falls in love. Photo courtesy of the Met Opera Archives.” Facebook. Aug. 22, 2016.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10157433100150533/

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Pelléas et Mélisande.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 89850 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Pelléas et Mélisande {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 03/21/1925.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=89850

“New Production: Pelléas et Mélisande.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 319780 New Production Pelléas et Mélisande {91} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/23/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=319780