Pelléas et Mélisande

  • Curtis Opera Theatre
  • May 2, 2027 @ 2:00 p.m.

A Luminous Opera of Longing and Loss

Curtis Opera Theatre presents Debussy‘s modernist masterpiece Pelléas et Mélisande, an ethereal meditation on love, jealousy, and the inevitability of fate. Adapted from Belgian playwright and librettist Maurice Maeterlinck’s drama, this enigmatic opera traces a shadowy, dream-like love triangle among Mélisande and Pelléas, and his envious brother Golaud. Set in a world of half-light and suggestion, the drama unfolds through glances, silences, and hidden desires.

Departing from conventional 19th-century Romanticism, Debussy centers subtle moods and shifting musical colors over grand vocal gestures. Here, characters express emotion through a minimalist “talk-sing” vocal style based on the rhythm of the French language. Conducted by Evan Rogister and directed by John Matsumoto Giampietro, this work also features a shimmering, impressionistic score that illuminates passions and tensions its characters cannot voice. A landmark of musical symbolism, Pelléas et Mélisande continues to mesmerize audiences over a century later.

Please note programs and artists are subject to change.

Program

DEBUSSY Pelléas et Mélisande

Maurice MAETERLINCK, libretto

Performed in French with English supertitles

Artists

  • John Matsumoto Giampietro Acting Instructor, Stage Director

    John Matsumoto Giampietro is a Brooklyn based stage director of Opera and Theatre, an educator, and writer. John has directed opera and theatre at Tanglewood, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Urban Stages, Yale Opera, Vermont Shakespeare Festival, Curtis Institute of Music, The Flea Theatre, Shenandoah Conservatory and NYU Tisch School of the Arts, among others. Learn more.

  • Evan Rogister Conductor

    Evan Rogister is one of the most eclectic and versatile conductors on the international scene. A dual citizen of Germany and the United States, Rogister leads performances at some of the world’s most prestigious houses, including the Glyndebourne Festival, The Metropolitan Opera, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and Opernhaus Zürich. Learn more.

  • Curtis Opera Theatre

    Through visionary productions, bold concepts, and compelling narratives, the artists of Curtis Opera Theatre prepare to become stars of the world stage. The combination of key elements of artistry—music, acting, singing, and design—allows these student-artists to create a lasting connection with audiences.

  • Curtis Symphony Orchestra

    Comprised of outstanding talent and unmatched enthusiasm for musical collaboration, Curtis Symphony Orchestra stands as a cornerstone of the Curtis Institute of Music experience and a vital component of Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural scene. For 100 years, our exceptional students have sharpened their skills and broadened their musical horizons, as they prepare for professional careers with the world’s foremost orchestras and chamber ensembles.

Special Thanks

Curtis Opera Theatre is generously supported by the Ernestine Bacon Cairns Trust and the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation.

Curtis received funding from Pennsylvania Creative Industries, powered by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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