Wajdi Mouawad directs Debussy's 'Pelléas et Mélisande' at Opéra Bastille with dark, hypnotic staging
From February 28 to March 27, 2025, Wajdi Mouawad's interpretation of Claude Debussy's opera 'Pelléas et Mélisande' will be performed at the Opéra Bastille in Paris. The production is set in the gloomy castle of Allemonde, featuring Sabine Devieilhe as Mélisande and Huw Montague Rendall as Pelléas. Gordon Bintner takes on the role of Golaud, whose character fills the mansion's cellars with animal remains. Conductor Antonello Manacorda blends existential impressionism with the violent expressionism of Pierre Boulez, while video artist Stéphanie Jasmin enhances the experience with eerie visuals. Additionally, Mouawad will present his play 'Journée de noces chez les Cromagnons' at Théâtre de La Colline from April 29 to June 22, 2025, alongside other works like Amos Gitaï's 'Golem' and Claus Guth's 'Samson' and 'Il viaggio, Dante.'
Key facts
- Wajdi Mouawad directs Claude Debussy's opera 'Pelléas et Mélisande' at Opéra Bastille, Paris, from February 28 to March 27, 2025.
- The staging features a dark, hypnotic atmosphere with a video screen woven with threads, created by video artist Stéphanie Jasmin.
- Sabine Devieilhe plays Mélisande, Huw Montague Rendall plays Pelléas, and Gordon Bintner plays Golaud.
- Conductor Antonello Manacorda approaches the music with existential impressionism, contrasting with Pierre Boulez's expressionist style.
- Mouawad's first play, 'Journée de noces chez les Cromagnons,' about the Lebanese civil war, will be revived at Théâtre de La Colline from April 29 to June 22, 2025.
- The production includes references to Edgar Poe's tales and a sculpture-like eviscerated horse reminiscent of Berlinde de Bruyckere's work.
- Mouawad teaches at the Collège de France on topics related to violence and shadow.
- Other mentioned productions include Amos Gitaï's 'Golem' at La Colline and Claus Guth's 'Samson' and 'Il viaggio, Dante' in Paris in March-April 2025.
Entities
Artists
- Wajdi Mouawad
- Claude Debussy
- Sabine Devieilhe
- Huw Montague Rendall
- Gordon Bintner
- Antonello Manacorda
- Pierre Boulez
- Stéphanie Jasmin
- Denis Marleau
- Berlinde de Bruyckere
- Edgar Poe
- Amos Gitaï
- Claus Guth
- Boyer
- Dusapin
- Voltaire
- Rameau
- Emmanuel Daydé
- Maurice Maeterlinck
Institutions
- Opéra Bastille
- Théâtre de La Colline
- Collège de France
- Opéra Comique
- Palais Garnier
- artpress
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Lebanon
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Gaza
- Palestine
Sources
- artpress —