Pelléas et Mélisande

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