Grammy Nomination for DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES

The Metropolitan Opera’s production of Poulenc’s wrenching masterpiece is nominated in the category Best Opera Recording.

Ever since John Dexter’s striking production marked the Met’s premiere of DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES in 1977, Poulenc’s devastating masterpiece has been a favourite of Met audiences – and recently became one of the Grammy Jury, too. To close out the 2018–19 season, Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin led a starry revival of the opera, which was also included as part of the Live in HD series of cinema transmissions. Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard is the fearful Blanche de la Force, who joins a convent of Carmelite nuns in order to escape the terrors of the French Revolution. The exceptional cast also features sopranos Erin Morley and Adrianne Pieczonka and mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill as some of Blanche’s fellow sisters, with tenor David Portillo as the protective Chevalier de la Force. Maestro Nézet-Séguin leads a gripping performance throughout—from the opera’s chaotic first bars to the chilling death scene of Madame de Croissy (sung by the incomparable Karita Mattila) to the work’s harrowing final moments.

“A glowing, grippingly volatile performance! …artists of a new generation have taken over this great work, this classic production and, in a way, the Met, starting with Mr. Nézet-Séguin”, hailed the New York Times. The New York Classical Review joins in, stating that “it’s hard to imagine not being moved by a performance like this one. With such extraordinary musical values, combined with intelligent but evocative stagecraft, this DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES represents the Met at its very best.”

Production year 2019
Duration 173min.
Composer Francis Poulenc
Stage Director John Dexter
Orchestra / Band The Metropolitan Opera
Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Soloist Isabel Leonard
Soloist Adrienne Pieczonka
Soloist Erin Morley
Soloist Karita Mattila