In his influential symbolist play Pelléas et Mélisande [1892], Maurice Maeterlinck "emphasizes atmosphere over plot in this dreamlike fairy tale about the terrifying power of love." [britannica.com] There were productions in Berlin, Vienna and London. Claude Debussy wrote his only opera based on the story, Arnold Schoenberg composed a tone poem, and Gabriel Fauré wrote incidental music for productions of the play. For a 1905 production in Helsinki, Jean Sibelius also composed incidental music which was well received. Soon after, he compiled nearly all the music into the Pelléas et Mélisande Concert Suite and it’s today's Midday Masterpiece at 2:00 pm.
Classical Music Playlist, May 4, 2022
May 4, 2022