Pelléas et Mélisande as a dark, shining fairy tale in Geneva

Mari Eriksmoen (Mélisande) and Björn Bürger (Pelléas)

Björn Bürger (Pelléas) and Mari Eriksmoen (Mélisande)

Nicolas Testé (Arkel)

By Elodie Olson-Coons, 27 October 2025

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“otherworldly in her innocence, her voice liquid and clear, shading into girlishness”

Reviewed at Grand Théâtre de Genève, Geneva on 26 October 2025

Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande

Grand Théâtre de Genève

Juraj Valčuha, Conductor

Damien Jalet, Director, Choreography

Marina Abramović, Set Designer

Iris van Herpen, Costume Designer

Urs Schönebaum, Lighting Designer

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Director, Choreography

Marco Brambilla, Video

Koen Bollen, Dramaturgy

Björn Bürger, Pelléas

Mari Eriksmoen, Mélisande

Leigh Melrose, Golaud

Nicolas Testé, Arkel

Sophie Koch, Geneviève

Charlotte Bozzi, Yniold

Mark Kurmanbayev, Shepherd, A Doctor

Chorus of the Grand Théâtre de Genève

Mark Biggins, Choirmaster / chorus director

Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève

Eastman Dance Company

Castor et Pollux in Geneva: among the stars, with shadows

Laura Servidei, 28th March

Rameau’s Castor et Pollux returns to the stage in a new production that brings together Baroque repertoire and contemporary theatrical aesthetics, conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón and performed by Cappella Mediterranea with an international cast.

***11

Bal Impérial & Boléro: multi-layered work challenges in Geneva

Daniel Pratt, 19th November

The premiere of Bal Impérial by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui challenges and interrogates to great effect in Geneva.

****1

Penthouse decadence for a shattering new Salome in Geneva

Mark Pullinger, 22nd January

The Grand Théâtre de Genève is certainly not risk-averse and Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó controversially translates the action to a penthouse bar in New York.

*****

An arthouse staging for Messiaen's testament of beauty in Geneva

Peter Quantrill, 11th April

Installation art sounds a dissonant note with the sublime harmony of Saint François d’Assise in Adel Abdessemed's creation at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.

****1

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents Idomeneo as a confused ballet in Geneva

Laura Servidei, 2nd March

The Grand Théâtre de Genève presents a new production of Mozart’s opera seria where the focus is all on dancing and rope twirling. Nevertheless, a good cast, led by Federica Lombardi as Elettra, manages to shine through.

**111

Justice in Geneva: musically appealing but missing its mark

David Karlin, 22nd January

Director Milos Rau, composer Hèctor Parra and librettist Fiston Mwanza Mujila put the operatic spotlight on the fight for justice after a mining disaster in the DRC, with mixed results.

**111

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Elodie Olson-Coons

Originaire de Lorraine, Elodie Olson-Coons a fait ses études littéraires à Cambridge. Mezzo-soprano et pianiste, elle est particulièrement intéressée par la musique contemporaine et vocale.

Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande as a dark, shining fairy tale in Geneva