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Pelléas et Mélisande

OPERA

Pelléas et Mélisande

SCHEDULE

  • Sat, 2 July 2022, 14:00
    TICKETS
  • Wed, 6 July 2022, 18:30
    TICKETS
  • Sat, 9 July 2022, 14:00
    TICKETS
  • Wed, 13 July 2022, 14:00
    TICKETS
  • Sun, 17 July 2022, 14:00
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  • Show More

2021/2022 SEASON

New Production

Music by Claude Achille DEBUSSY
Opera in 5 Acts
Sung in French with English and Japanese surtitles

OPERA PALACE

Sous le parrainage de:
Ambassade de France / Institut français du JaponLogo Ambassade_IFJ_RVB.jpg



2 Jul - 17 Jul, 2022 ( 5 Performances )

TICKETS

Running time is approx. 3 hours and 25 mins including one interval

Co-production with the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Teatr Wielki Polish National Opera

DETAILS

"Pelléas et Mélisande" is the only opera by French impressionist composer Claude Achille DEBUSSY. DEBUSSY strove to produce a uniquely French opera. To this end he both incorporated the leitmotiv technique and, using a unique musical syntax, composed music rich in colour and contrast to express the vitality of nature - light, water, mist and wind - as depicted in the play by Maurice MAETERLINCK. DEBUSSY made the music fuse with the meter of the French language, and used restraint in his depictions of the suffering and rising emotions of the characters on stage for a richly textured portrayal. This tale of love and hatred in an impenetrable fortress is told with mystery, symbolism and an air of tension, the drama cleansed at the end with the serenity of the postlude.
The production is directed by Katie MITCHELL, director of many plays and operas in Britain and highly acclaimed for the sense of reality she achieves with her distinctive sensibilities and rationale. First performed at the 2016 Aix-en-Provence Festival, this production of "Pelléas et Mélisande" is a modern retelling of the drama as the dream of a woman who has come into a household. Conducting is ONO Kazushi, the Artistic Director of Opera of the NNTT. The young lovers Pelléas and Mélisande will be performed by Bernard RICHTER and Karen VOURC'H, both made great success in the roles. Golaud is performed by the veteran French baritone Laurent NAOURI, who also performed in the Aix-de-Provence.

* Please note that there might be changes depending on the Covid-19 situation.

[Covid-19] Our Prevention Plan and Request to Our Patrons

The performances will be taking place based on the policies of the Japanese government and the Tokyo Metropolitan government, along with the guideline for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 infection by the Association of Public Theatres and Halls in Japan.

Please read this page before visiting the theatre.

NEWS & FEATURES

17TH July, 2022
Cast change for Pelléas et Mélisande on 17 July (role of Geneviève)
READ MORE
6TH July, 2022
Cast change for Pelléas et Mélisande on 6 July (role of Yniold)
READ MORE

SYNOPSIS

Part 1

Golaud gets lost while out hunting, encounters Mélisande weeping by a spring, and takes her back with him. Half a year later, Golaud writes his half-brother Pelléas a letter saying how much he wishes their father, the aged kind Arkel, would give him permission to marry. The king then has Golaud’s new wife brought to the castle. Mélisande, who has crome to the castle, meets with Pelléas. They talk with each other while watching the sight of the boat that brought her disappear into the distance.

Pelléas takes Mélisande to the Fountain of the Blind, which is in the castle grounds, and tells her of its power. Mélisande accidentally drops the wedding ring that Golaud gave her into the fountain.

At that moment, Golaud falls from his horse in the forest and is gravely injured. While attending to her husband in his room, Mélisande tells him how her mind will never be at rest while at the castle. Golaud then notices that she is not wearing her ring and vehemently presses her to explain. Mélisande lies, saying she lost it while gathering seashells for Golaud’s son, Yniold. Upon Golaud’s orders, Mélisande, seized with fear, heads to a cave by the seashore accompanied by Pelléas.

It is a moonlit night, and Mélisande is combing her hair in her chamber. Pelléas rides by, sees her long hair, and is captivated by it; upon which, Golaud appears, and castigates the two for their behavior. The next day, Golaud leads Pelléas underground and tells him not to do anything that will disturb the pregnant Mélisande. Golaud then closely questions Yniold about what might be going on between Pelléas and Mélisande and compels him to spy on his mother’s chamber.

Part 2

Golaud, consumed by jealousy, comes to the room where Arkel and Mélisande are talking, grabs his wife by the hair and throws her to the floor. That evening, Pelléas, who is going on a journey, asks her at the last minute to join him. Mélisande makes her way to the fountain. Under the light of the moon, the two confess their love for each other and kiss. Golaud appears right then and there and kills Pelléas. Mélisande, who had made her escape, gives birth to a girl, and is on her deathbed. Golaud, while extending her his forgiveness, nevertheless obstinately presses her to tell him what her relationship was with his brother. Arkel brings Golaud into line, and hands Mélisande the baby for her to embrace. Mélisande breathes her last, leaving them all behind.

N.B. This production is staged in two parts.

Photo: Festival d'Aix-en-Provence ©Patrick Berger / ArtComPress

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CREATIVE TEAM & CAST

CREATIVE TEAM

Conductor: ONO Kazushi
Production: Katie MITCHELL
Set Design: Lizzie CLACHAN
Costume Design: Chloe LAMFORD
Lighting Design: James FARNCOMBE
Choreographer: Joseph ALFORD
Revival Director: Gilles RICO

CAST

Pelléas: Bernard RICHTER
Mélisande: Karen VOURC’H
Golaud: Laurent NAOURI
Arkel: TSUMAYA Hidekazu
Yniold: KUSHIMA Kanae (MAEKAWA Yoriko on 6 July)
Un médecin: KONO Teppei
Geneviève: HAMADA Rie (TAMURA Yukie on 17 July)

Chorus: New National Theatre Chorus
Orchestra: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

  • CREATIVE TEAM
  • CAST
  • ONO Kazushi
    Conductor
    ONO Kazushi
    Katie MITCHELL
    Production
    Katie MITCHELL
  • Bernard RICHTER
    Pelléas
    Bernard RICHTER
    Karen VOURC’H
    Mélisande
    Karen VOURC’H
    Laurent NAOURI
    Golaud
    Laurent NAOURI
    TSUMAYA Hidekazu
    Arkel
    TSUMAYA Hidekazu
    KUSHIMA Kanae
    Yniold
    KUSHIMA Kanae
    KONO Teppei
    Un médecin
    KONO Teppei
    HAMADA Rie
    Geneviève
    HAMADA Rie

TICKETS

  • S
    ¥27,500
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  • A
    ¥22,000
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  • B
    ¥15,400
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  • C
    ¥8,800
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  • D
    ¥5,500
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  • Z
    ¥1,650*
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SEATING PLAN

Box Office: +81-(0)3-5352-9999

10:00 - 18:00

Booking Opens: Sat, 21 May 2022, 10:00am

*The tickets will be sold for all seats as normal (except the seats in rows 1-2 on the 1st Floor).

Booking Z seats (Day tickets) 1,650 yen

  • You are able to purchase Z seat tickets online from 10:00 am. Click "BUY TICKETS" next to "Z" under each performance information.
  • There is a handling charge of ¥330 (incl. tax).
  • Only when seats allocated as Z seat are still available 2 hours before the show starts, you are able to purchase these tickets at the Box Office of the theatre.
  • Note that all Z seats are on a first come, first served basis and will come with restricted views.

Concession Prices

Under 15s discounts and Z seats (Day Tickets) are available online. Other types of discount tickets are not available online. Please inquire at the Box Office or by telephone.

*Please note that further changes or cancellations may be required as the coronavirus situation develops or to comply with requests from the Government.

Please Note

    • For Seat D of Opera performances, maximum of 2 tickets per person on the first day of ticket sale.
    • No admittance to pre-school children. Each child older than this age requires a ticket for entry, even when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
    • Tickets may not be changed or refunded except following conditions.
      • When the performance is cancelled.
      • In case you correspond to the conditions as mentioned on this page
      • If you choose not to attend the performance due to prevent infection.

 Please be sure to call the New National Theatre, Tokyo Box Office in advance.
 At that point, we will tell you the Refund method.

  • A special discount price is available for disabled guests. Please inquire at the Box Office for details.
  • Users of wheelchairs are requested to contact the Box Office.
  • Please note that cast change may be required depending on the situation.
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10:00 - 18:00

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