Definitive Pelléas and Mélisande at the LA Phil

By Maria Nockin, 21 February 2016

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Reviewed at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles on 19 February 2016

Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

David Edwards, Director

Stéphane Degout, Pelléas

Camilla Tilling, Mélisande

Laurent Naouri, Golaud

Sir Willard White, Arkel

Dame Felicity Palmer, Geneviève

Chloé Briot, Yniold

Hadleigh Adams, Shepherd

Nicholas Brownlee, A Doctor

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Kate Burton, Narrator

Colin Grenfell, Lighting Designer

Los Angeles Master Chorale

The Merry Widow wobbles in Singapore

Paul Selar, 25th October

Singapore Lyric Opera’s new production of The Merry Widow, set in 1920s Paris, is weighed down by uninspired directorship.

**111

Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 13th May

With Aigul Akhmetshina and Seokjong Baek in the title roles, there are reasons to be optimistic, but The Royal Opera’s revival of Richard Jones’ production is a mixed bag.

***11

Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Lawrence Dunn, 12th May

Kip Williams and ENO mount an extraordinary new production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s multifaceted opera, with performances of great emotional directness broadcast live on camera.

*****

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

Thomas May, 8th May

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

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Maria Nockin

Originally from New York City, Maria Nockin began attending opera and concerts as a child when her parents could not find a babysitter. She has studied violin, piano and guitar as well as voice, and she has a master’s degree in education from Fordham University. Having spent many years teaching high school in winter and working at the Salzburg Festival in summer, she now lives in the Southwest where she covers classical music for Opera Today, Bachtrack, Fanfare, and Classical Singer as well as publications in Spanish, Dutch, and Italian.