Ccm opera continues its season with the spring mainstage production of francis poulencs masterpiece dialogues of the carmelites dialogues des carmelites. Eklund opera program to present poulencs dialogues of the carmelites by melanie shaffer. Salve regina dialogues des carmelites xv fao youtube. The result is a rare case of a modern opera that is equally esteemed by audiences and music experts. Dialogues des carmelites dialogues of the carmelites is an opera in three acts, divided into twelve scenes with linking orchestral interludes, with music and libretto by francis poulenc, completed in 1956. Carmelites the dialogues des carmelites sung in english, an album by francis poulenc, paul daniel on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. With each stroke of the blade, their voices are cut off one by one, finally leaving only constance.
Jan 23, 2016 in his 1957 opera dialogues des carmelites, french composer francis poulenc sets revolution and religion on a collision course. The finale excites and horrifies in equal measure deftly blending thrills and piety. A historical, literary, and musical analysis of francis poulencs. Dialogues des carmelites 1956, volume 1, an album by paris opera chorus, xavier depraz, gisele desmoutiers, denise duval, liliane berton, rita gorr, paul finel, janine fourrier, pierre dervaux on spotify. Her entry into the order of the carmelites and her conversations with the. The experience of hearing an opera in ones first language assuming that the piece is performed well, using a. This event inspired a novella that later became a source for georges bernanos play and poulenc s opera. Rather than the laudate dominum, poulenc chose to have the nuns singing salve regina at the. That finale is the most famous part of the opera, but there is much more to dialogues, kulesza added. Dialogues of the carmelites program insert by opera.
Ua opera theater with the arizona symphony orchestra performed in english april 7 at 7. In the opera dialogues des carmelites by francis poulenc. Poulenc dialogues des carmelites erato 2564 621953 mc. Classic account of a ground breaking work october 9, 2016 by john s. The mets dialogues des carmelites makes a case for the radical power of faith. The opera premiered on january 1957 at the teatro alla scala in milan, italy. Georges bernanos and francis poulenc catholic convergences in dialogues of the carmelites mark bosco sj bio francis poulencs dialogues of the carmelites ranks as one of the most catholic operas of the twentieth century, as theologically insightful as it is lyrically beautiful. The carmelites paul daniel on allmusic 2006 the release of the carmelites continues chandos. The newest taping of poulencs dialogue of the carmelites brings the total of dvds to four. Piano, vocal sheet music book by francis poulenc 18991963. Apr 04, 2016 2004 orchestra e coro del teatro alla scala di milano direttore e concertatore dorchestra. The release of the carmelites continues chandos englishlanguage recordings of productions from the english national opera, and while these may not be definitive versions of the operas, they constitute valuable contributions to a deeper appreciation of the works. Poulenc was regarded as the bad boy of 20th century french classical music and opera but this work shows his deeply religious and catholic side. Francis poulencs 1957 dialogues of the carmelites is a serious, big, theatrically effective work.
Sep 16, 2016 francis poulenc s gripping opera, set in the french revolution, tells the story of loyalty and sacrifice with a haunting, modern musical score that echoes sacred music of an earlier day. The composers second opera, poulenc wrote the libretto after the work of the same name by georges bernanos. Dialogues of the carmelites by francis poulenc synopsis. It even has the edge over richard strausss rosenkavalier trio and duet, in that the singers often end up in tears as well as the audience. Francis poulenc s 1957 dialogues of the carmelites is a serious, big, theatrically effective work. Its ironic that a frenchman should have perfected wagners signature songspeech, but thats what francis poulenc 18991963 has done in his opera dialogues of the carmelites, staged sunday at merrill auditorium by the portland symphony orchestra, the choral art society and an excellent cast of soloists. Yes the minimalist set is stunningly effective, as is the lighting and the choreography of the nuns. Eklund opera program to present poulencs dialogues of the carmelites by. Poulenc belonged to a circle of entertaining radicals who moved, pushed, yanked and shoved french music forward from the era of debussy and ravel. Vespers and compline, as well as the office of the dead, the salve regina, and, as they finally. Directed by philippe agostini, raymond leopold bruckberger.
John, as it states in the program machliss wellknown version in english and. Their story is the inspiration for poulencs wrenchingly beautiful masterpiece. On her way to the scaffold, she sees blanche step up from the crowd, take up the chant, and follow her to her death. The synopsis of francis poulenc opera, dialogues des. Poulencs dialogues of the carmelites and the grip of.
Images from dialogues of the carmelites dress rehearsals in the musical arts center. Poulencs dialogues of the carmelites opera philadelphia. Dialogues des carmelites demonstrates the power of faith. Dramatic themes in poulencs dialogues des carmelites. Jun 01, 2014 what we get in dialogues des carmelites a 1950s opera that sounds much older is the religious crisis and, musically speaking, the good mood. Dialogues des carmelites final scene salve regina f. Peabody opera to present poulencs dialogues of the. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. Poulenc s dialogues des carmelites is arguably the greatest opera written since the end of world war ii. Listen to our podcast with cast members michelle alexander, lucy anderson and michael vickers as we discuss religion and martyrdom in the opera, singing in french and nun puns. Study notes on dialogues of the carmelites francis poulenc was one of the group of composers known as les six the six, other members of which included honegger. A man of contradictions, by all counts poulenc led a worldly life.
Dialogues of the carmelites leads the audience on a profoundly moving journey of faith. Before the lights go down, its easy to be flippant about an opera. In this legendary production, director john dexter and designer david reppa brilliantly captured the stark drama of poulenc s only fulllength opera, which tells the story of a group of nuns caught in the maelstrom of the french revolution. The trajectory from the historical event to poulencs opera began with an account of the actual french revolutionary event, in which sixteen carmelite nuns were executed at the guillotine. Widely acknowledged as a masterpiece dialogues des carmelites is a complex emotional mix of personal relationships, religion and revolution. The first signs of the french revolution are beginning to shake the country. Poulenc uses the orchestra, especially during the interludes, to propel the opera in a manner that is reminiscent of debussys pelleas et melisande but with much more intense results. Met opera on demand delivers instant access to more than 500 met performances, including live in hd videos, classic telecasts and radio broadcasts. This is a realistic work, set during the french revolution. Based on a true story, this heartbreaking saga of martyred nuns runs from may 1215, 2011 in ccms corbett auditorium. It has no romantic love affair, being concerned rather with the relationships among an order of french carmelite nuns and the family members of their newest novice. His original inspiration interpreted through several versions by different authors was. The carmelites walk towards the guillotine, led by madame lidoine and singing the salve regina. The curtis opera theatre, in association with opera philadelphia and kimmel center for the performing arts, presents poulencs powerful opera dialogues of the carmelites with three soldout performances march 5, 7, and 9 in the perelman theater at philadelphias kimmel center.
The mother superior informs her that the carmelite order is not a refuge. Isnt the nunstothescaffold scene which concludes poulenc s ultimate testament of doubt and faith the deepest, most heartwrenching finale in all opera. Set in the french revolution, between the years 1789 and 1794, poulenc s tragic opera dialogues des carmelites tells the horrifying story of the martyring of the entire carmelite order. Her entry into the order of the carmelites and her conversations with the other nuns strengthen her and. Jul 30, 2002 glimmerglass and the new york city opera have a hit on their hands with this radiant production of poulenc s 1957 dialogues of the carmelites. The newest taping of poulenc s dialogue of the carmelites brings the total of dvds to four. Apr 21, 2012 albeit unorthodox, francis poulencs dialogues des carmelites is nonetheless one of the great works of the opera repertory.
This event inspired a novella that later became a source for georges bernanos play and poulencs opera. Some orchestras try to recreate it with conventional instruments, perhaps scraping something across the edge of a tam tam. Largely based on actual historical events at the time of the french. The opera immediately went into the international repertory, and has been performed in. Youd never know that the mets production of francis poulenc s dialogues des carmelites is over 40 years old, except for a. This, of course, is one of the main reasons i wanted to come to the harrower summer opera workshop this year. Daily inter lake this week in the flathead, true story. Glimmerglass and the new york city opera have a hit on their hands with this radiant production of poulenc s 1957 dialogues of the carmelites. Yet he was capable of creating a deeply spiritual work like les dialogues des carmelites, arguably the greatest opera of the second half of the 20th century.
Members of the carmelites cast read the fascinating dialogues by georges bernanos that did not make it into the operas libretto. Georges bernanos and francis poulenc catholic convergences in dialogues of the carmelites mark bosco sj bio francis poulenc s dialogues of the carmelites ranks as one of the most catholic operas of the twentieth century, as. The trajectory from the historical event to poulenc s opera began with an account of the actual french revolutionary event, in which sixteen carmelite nuns were executed at the guillotine. With jeanne moreau, alida valli, madeleine renaud, pascale audret. This performance is being broadcast live on metropolitan. I wanted to be involved in their production of poulenc s dialogues of the carmelites, an opera that has fascinated me and eluded me since i was first introduced to it a couple years ago. Dialogues des carmelites by francis poulenc caramoor. Dialogues of the carmelites university libraries university of. Dialogues of the carmelites can be interpreted in a number of ways.
Though scored predominantly for women, the voice types vary, and the large orchestra is used handsomely enough to keep the ear fascinated. The drama unfolds in a gripping and straightforward narrative framework of 12. The recent production of poulencs dialogues of the carmelites not only. Dialogues of the carmelites by francis poulenc 18991963. The salve regina is one of the most haunting of all choral numbers in.
It more than atones for the nycos unfortunate 1966. And now shes back, this time on stage believe it or not in the starkly dissimilar role of a nun in the mets hd season finale of francis poulenc s dialogues des carmelites. Yes, dialogues of the carmelites is one of the greatest twentieth century operas. Dialogues des carmelites offers too little of a good.
Francis poulencs opera dialogues des carmelites consists of three acts, and takes place in france during the french revolution in the late 18th century. Patricia petibon gives the performance of a lifetime as blanche, fleeing from the world. The opera immediately went into the international repertory, and. The prioress karita mattila refuses the help of the doctor paul corona so she may speak to sister blanche isabel leonard. Dialogues of the carmelites ends met opera hd series. Dialogues des carmelites work francis poulencfrancis.
John dexters 1977 production of poulencs dialogues des carmelites remains one of the most beloved in the metropolitan. Poulencs unorthodox dialogues des carmelites the boston. Peabody opera to present poulenc s dialogues of the carmelites. Dialogues of the carmelites 1984 2h 38min drama, music tv movie. As we approached the civic opera house, we observed a large crowd gathered outside the door waiting in the cold for the doors to open so they could attend the lecturer before the premiere presentation of dialogues of the carmelites by francis poulenc. Francis poulencs the dialogues of the carmelites is chief among them. This dramatic and powerful tourdeforce, based on a true story, explores faith and redemption, fate and sacrifice. Libretto by the composer based on the play by georges bernanos.
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