Opera Scotland

David McVicar directs Pelléas and Mélisande

Posted 20 Dec 2016

Sir David McVicar makes a welcome return to Scottish Opera to direct Claude Debussy's extraordinary opera, Pelléas and Mélisande, for the first time in his career.

Rae Smith and Paule Constable, the design team behind the hit show War Horse, join him in a production that brings to life an enigmatic tale of love, honour, jealousy and loss, inspired by the paintings of Danish artist Villhelm Hammershøi.

Scottish Opera Music Director, Stuart Stratford, conducts an outstanding cast that includes soprano Carolyn Sampson (Rake's Progress 2012) as Mélisande, Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize winner Andrei Bondarenko as Pelléas, Roland Wood (Trovatore 2015) as Golaud, Alastair Miles as Arkel, King of Allemonde, Anne Mason (Trovatore 2015) as Geneviève, and Jonathan May as the Doctor.

Director Sir David McVicar said: 'Pelléas is an opera unlike any other. Debussy's lyrical, sensuous music casts an hypnotic spell whilst the drama is compelling and unbearably moving. Pelléas is a work that looks at things half-expressed and half-lived and conveys more than any other opera the tragic poignancy of existence.'

Alex Reedijk, Scottish Opera's General Director added: 'Scottish Opera is delighted to welcome back Sir David McVicar to direct his first production of Debussy's extraordinary opera, and the design team of Rae Smith and Paule Constable, creators of War Horse. The company greatly values its close relationship with Sir David, who was last here directing Rake's Progress in 2012 and has also created acclaimed productions of Madama Butterfly, Traviata and Rosenkavalier for Scottish Opera.'

Audiences also have the chance to attend Pelléas and Mélisande Unwrapped, a free one-hour taster delving further in to the show and how it was created, as well as Pre-show Talks. Those who are visually impaired can enjoy the full opera experience at audio-described performances, which have live commentary that describes the action on stage without compromising the music.