The Pelleas Connection
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Alexia Cousin as Melisande & Simon Keenlyside as Pelleas in the 2000 production by the Grand Théâtre in Geneva
In a mysterious land of shadows and memories, a prince comes upon a frightened young woman in the woods — far from home and uncertain how she got there.
Despite her mysterious origins, the prince marries her — and then six months later, she falls in love with his half-brother — a cascade of events that leads to a tragic end.
Little known today, the 19th century symbolist play Pelléas and Mélisande fascinated Debussy, Faure, Schoenberg, Sibelius and others, prompting music that reflected the story’s world of inner conflict — in which nothing is clear . . . except ambiguity.
In this hour, we’ll hear what they made of it all.
RECORDINGS USED
CD Title
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Group/Artist
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Catalog #
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UPC
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Faure: Pelléas et Mélisande, etc.
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Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner
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Argo 410 552-2
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028941055224
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Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht & Pelléas Und Mélisande
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Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
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Deutsche Grammophon 457721-2
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028945772127
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Sibelius: Scenes Historiques, Pelléas Et Mélisande
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Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam
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Chandos CHAN 9483
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095115948323
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Debussy: Pelléas & Mélisande Suite
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Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
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Deutsche Grammophon 289 471 332-2
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028947133223
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Wallace: Creation Symphony; Pelléas and Mélisande
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BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins
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Hyperion CDA66987
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034571169873
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Scott: Overture to Pelléas and Melisanda
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BBC Concert Orchestra, Martin Yates
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Dutton Epoch CDLX 7302
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765387730222
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Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande
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Vienna Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado
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Deutsche Grammophon 435 344-2
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028943534420
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