Dialogues des Carmélites

Based on a true story which took place during the Terror in France, this masterpiece by Francis Poulenc draws on a script by Georges Bernanos, who was in turn inspired by a short story penned by Gertrud von Le Fort. The work was a huge success when it was premiered at La Scala in January 1957, and in France at the Opéra Garnier six months later (notably due to the stage and vocal presence of Denise Duval and Régine Crespin). Making the mysteries of faith the subject of an opera dominated by female voices was nevertheless a risk, but the emotional power of Bernanos’s script, which Poulenc largely retained, the dramatic rigour, and the richness of the musical idiom make it one of the crowning achievements of twentieth-century French opera. In the Dialogues, Poulenc, who was both a deeply religious man and a modern composer, conveys the historic challenges of faith and mystery without denying their spiritual and physical torments: pride and humility, madness and contemplation, fear and self-sacrifice. Olivier Py’s staging remains true to this spirit, offering a timeless and moving vision of this twentieth-century masterpiece.

Some female singers will be returning for this new series of performances, but in different roles. Véronique Gens reprises Madame Lidoine, Patricia Petitbon will be Mère Marie de l’Incarnation, a role previously played by Sophie Koch who will now sing Madame de Croissy, whose extraordinary death scene on a suspended bed is etched in audiences’ memory. These original three singers from the premiere will be joined by Vannina Santoni (her first Blanche de la Force) and Alexandre Duhamel. American conductor Karina Canellakis will be at the rostrum with the musicians of Les Siècles for this reprise.

Texte de la pièce de Georges Bernanos, adapté avec l’autorisation d’Emmet Lavery, d’après une nouvelle de Gertrude Von Le Fort et d’un scénario du Rev. Bruckberger et Philippe Agostini édité par Casa Ricordi Milan Srl. 
Coproduction Théâtre des Champs-Elysées | Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Bruxelles 
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