Debussy\'s Music Pelleas and Melisande

DEBUSSY'S PELLEAS & MELISANDE

Music

Debussy's Pelleas & Melisande

Debussy's Pelleas & Melisande

I found this opera to be enjoyable from the vey onset. I knew nothing of the opera and knew just a little of the story/myth from antiquity of Pelleas and Melisande. At the time of my viewing, I did have a solid background with the music of Claude Debussy, but I was excited to engage a work of Debussy's with which I was unfamiliar. The music here is idyllic and dystopic. Every act is filled with rich, vibrant, and emotionally charged music, marking this opera as a fine example of impressionist music.

Opposites attract; Prince Golaud and Melisande are very much opposites and the beginning of the story. Prince Golaud is male. He has facial hair. His hair is short, wavy, and brown. He wears a form-fitting suit, black and shiny, resembling metal. Melisande has a lighter complexion. She wears light colored, free flowing robes that catch the wind as she thrashes about the stage. He wears shoes (boots) and she is barefoot. His body is completely covered, while she has some exposed skin. While Prince Golaud is calm, brave, and logical, Melisande is anxious, fearful, and irrational with emotion. The prince is returning home while the young woman has been ripped from her home. He is royalty and she is all alone. She is still in her youth while the prince has gray hairs at his temples and in his beard. Despite their differences, they are drawn together and they do share one thing in common: they are both lost in the forest.

I do enjoy how the film of the operatic performance includes regular visual references to the actual sheet music of the opera. Seeing the music reminds the viewer that though the viewer watches the opera play out on a stage, the primary aspect of this experience is the music. Viewers may become distracted by the visuals of the characters, the costumes, and even the subtitles on the screen. The dissolves to and from the sheet music of the opera refocus the audience to make viewers just as keenly observant of the music as they are of the costumes, actors, and sets.

The marriage between Golaud and Melisande was ominous from their very first meeting. She was crying, alone, and had no possessions. Melisande had dropped her crown, a gift. Thus, she is irresponsible with her possessions. Her loss of the crown is a foreshadowing of losing her wedding ring later. Melisande is also quite high strung when she meets Golaud. She is adamant about her desire to not be touched and she threatens to commit suicide over the demonstration of the smallest gestures by Golaud. Instability, excessive emotions, and hysteria are often traits associated with women, and as this is a symbolist opera, Melisande represents of womankind and femininity. She is duplicitous in that she commits infidelity on her husband with his brother. Melisande charms Arkel, Golaud, and Pelleas as she has a trance or hypnotic power over men.