Joan Of Arc At The Stake

Oscar winner Marion Cotillard takes on the role of one of the most remarquable French historical figures, the virgin of Orleans.

Dramatic oratorio in 11 scenes
Music by Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
Libretto by Paul Claudel
Premiered in the Gosser Musiksaal of Basilea, 12 May 1938

An adoration of the celestial damsel and the fanatic mob that sent a woman to the stake accused of witchcraft constitute the two extremes of medieval representation of the female sex. These come together in this double bill of stimulating pieces where there is no scarcity of connections. Even though neither carries the title of «opera» –a symbolist cantata by Debussy and a dramatic oratorio by Honegger–, they were composed with Wagner in mind. On the one hand, we have a young Debussy capable of playing Tristan und Isolde, from memory on the piano not before rejecting the spell of the «old wise man» in Pelléas et Mélisande. On the other is Honegger at the height of his career, fascinated –along with his librettist Paul Claudel– by the Wagnerian Gesamtkunstwerk concept of the «total work of art », yet prepared to accomplish this with a completely new framework.


With differing durations, dramatic registers and music, yet perfectly complimentary at the same time, La damoiselle élue shines like a stained glass window of Fra Angelico, whereas the colourful modal, the polytonality additions and the phantasmagorical sound of the ondes Martenot in Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher seem to reflect their light against the stone walls.


CAST
Jeanne d' Arc | Marion Cotillard
Padre Dominique | Sébastien Dutrieux
The Virgin | Sylvia Schwartz
Marguerite | Elena Copons
Catherine | Enkelejda Shkoza
Porcus | Charles Workman
Heraldo | Torben Jügens

Genre Opera
Recording date June 2022