Karina Canellakis conducts Debussy's *Pelléas et Mélisande*

In his only opera,*Pelléas et Mélisande*, Debussy paints a world full of conflicting emotions—a story of love, jealousy, and betrayal.

’s Mysterious Music He completed only one opera, but with it he sparked a musical revolution in France and Europe. Pelléas et Mélisande, first performed in 1902 in Paris, is based on the eponymous Symbolist play by the Ghent-born author Maurice Maeterlinck. Debussy composed mysterious and atmospheric music for it. In doing so, he made use of, among other things, the whole-tone scale, which evokes an almost disorienting experience for the listener.

: A Journey of Discovery The role of Mélisande is sung by a lyric soprano, in this case the French-Catalan Lauranne Oliva. Pelléas is a so-called Baryton-Martin, a high baritone that reaches into the tenor range. The central role of Golaud is performed by baritone Stéphane Degout, who was a guest at the Matinee last season in Pygmalion. This special production is led by chief conductor Karina Canellakis, who continues her journey of discovery through the unique opera repertoire here in Amsterdam.