Pelléas et Mélisande at the Vienna State Opera

The new production of Debussy’s masterpiece live on the square and live at home.

After more than 25 years, Claude Debussy’s only opera returns to the Vienna State Opera in a new production by renowned director Marco Arturo Marelli. The title roles are portrayed by Austrian baritone Adrian Eröd – recently honoured with the title Kammersänger – and Ukrainian soprano Olga Bezsmertna. The cast is completed by Simon Keenlyside as Golaud, Franz-Josef Selig as Arkel and Bernarda Fink as Geneviève in the major roles; the opera is conducted by Alain Altinoglu.

Besides the premiere on 18th June, two further performances (on 24th and 30th June) can be experienced live on the square in front of the opera house where they will be broadcast on a video screen – free of charge. The last performance – which will also conclude the 2016/2017 season – can be experienced all over the world through the streaming service WIENER STAATSOPER live at home (live or at your personal prime time within 72 hours); furthermore, owners of a Samsung SUHD- or UHD-TV can experience the stream in exceptional UHD-HDR-quality via the Wiener Staatsoper App.

Pelléas et Mélisande is regarded as one of the principal works of musical impressionism. The composer was not willing to adopt conventional structures in setting Maurice Maeterlinck’s symbolist play to music; rather, the tragic struggle of the two lovers perpetually unfolds itself through the musical continuity.

Claude Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande
18 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 30 June 2017, 7 p.m.