Glyndebourne's baffling Pélleas et Mélisande at the Proms

By Dominic Lowe, 19 July 2018

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“Robin Ticciati and the London Philharmonic gave a ravishing reading of the score”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 17 July 2018

Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande (semi-staged; sung in French, with surtitles)

Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Christina Gansch, Mélisande

John Chest, Pelléas

Christopher Purves, Golaud

Brindley Sherratt, Arkel

Karen Cargill, Geneviève

Chloé Briot, Yniold

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Robin Ticciati, Conductor

Glyndebourne revives Michieletto’s Kátya Kabanová

Mark Valencia, 3rd August

Damiano Michieletto’s production of Janáček’s opera breaks a key tenet of high-concept opera: where it should reveal, it obfuscates.

***11

All the world’s a jest: Falstaff returns to Glyndebourne

Mark Pullinger, 23rd July

Richard Jones' 2009 production returns to Glyndebourne after a long absence, but the 1940s comedy scrubs up fresh.

***11

A strong new Figaro opens at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 29th June

Mariame Clément is a popular director at Glyndebourne, and her new production of Figaro shows her trademark approach to hardhitting comedy.

****1

Glyndebourne's Saul still packs a punch 10 years on

Nick Boston, 8th June

Returning from the original run, Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies were joined by a strong cast and chorus for a revival of Barrie Kosky's striking production.

*****

Unhurried suspense in a very English Parsifal

Peter Quantrill, 17th May

Compelling singers carry the day in the Glyndebourne Festival Opera's first staging of Wagner’s swansong.

****1

Glyndebourne’s season opens with Rossini’s Barber of Seville

David Karlin, 16th May

Annabel Arden’s production provides joyous comedy, with vocal and orchestral performances of the very finest.

*****

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Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.

Prom 5: Glyndebourne's baffling Pélleas et Mélisande arrives at the Proms