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Grand Theater stages Debussy opera
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SHANGHAI Grand Theater’s new performance season opens tonight with French composer Debussy’s opera “Pelléas et Mélisande.” This landmark of 20th-century music is the only opera Debussy ever completed.
The story starts with Prince Golaud finding Mélisande, a mysterious young woman, lost in a forest. He marries her and brings her back to the castle of his grandfather. Here Mélisande becomes increasingly attached to Golaud’s younger half-brother Pelléas, arousing Golaud’s jealousy. Golaud goes to extreme measures to find the truth about Pelléas and Mélisande’s relationship.
Co-produced by Shanghai Grand Theater and Xinchan Center for Theater Arts, the opera is being performed in China for the first time. Conductor Tang Muhai and director Yi Liming will work hand in hand to bring this French opera to life with Chinese elements.
“I’m not French and Ican’t present a Western background to the audience. However, I’ve found that Debussy’s music shares a lot in common with Chinese aesthetic concepts — both are very impressionistic and mysterious, which reminds me of Chinese landscapes of water and mountains,” director Yi said. “So Itried to transplant the story to the Orient by adding some Chinese elements.”
It’s also the first time for Tang to conduct the opera. “It’s very challenging. Debussy’s music is different from Puccini or Verdi that we’re familiar with. It’s unique and delicate, like a plain-looking yet elegant flower in the garden,” Tang said.
South African classical baritone Jacques Imbrailo plays Pelléas and French singer Sophie Marin-Degor plays Mélisande. French bass-baritone Paul Gay plays Golaud.
Date: September 8-10, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater
Address: 300 People’s Ave
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