Debussy – Impressions de Pelléas
Opera at the New Church in The Hague: De Nationale Opera Studio presents Impressions de Pelléas, a chamber opera based on Debussy's masterwork Pelléas et Mélisande. Six young soloists and two pianos bring one of the twentieth century's most distinctive operas to life in an intense, compact evening of music drama.
Pelléas et Mélisande has been regarded for over a century as one of the most singular operas in the repertoire. Debussy's music draws you into a world of half-shadows and undercurrents, where little is spoken aloud but everything is felt. In 1992, composer and conductor Marius Constant created a condensed version for two pianos and six soloists, preserving the essence of the work: the psychological tension, the tragedy and the enigmatic atmosphere of a classic love triangle.
Nederlandse Reisopera at the New Church in The Hague
This production is a collaboration between Nederlandse Reisopera, De Nationale Opera and Opera Zuid. The direction is by Joe Hill-Gibbins, known for his sharp and visually striking approach. Conductor Benjamin Perry Wenzelberg, associated with the Orchestra of the 18th Century, performs at the piano himself, and the instrument is not just musical but also physical at the centre of the action. The drama literally unfolds in and on the grand piano, giving the performance an intimacy that borders on the claustrophobic, entirely in keeping with the story.
Young talent from De Nationale Opera Studio
The cast features singers from De Nationale Opera Studio, the training programme of De Nationale Opera for promising young opera talent. They deliver the work with the full intensity it demands, in a chamber format that brings the stage and audience closer together. Cloakroom and an interval drink are included in the ticket price.
