Pelléas et Mélisande (Sibelius)

" Pelléas and Mélisande ", op 46 is a composed by Jean Sibelius theater music for the eponymous drama Pelléas et Mélisande by Maurice Maeterlinck from the year 1892. Many composers have written to music. Claude Debussy even composed a five-act opera. Sibelius was satisfied that he composed in 1905 with a achtsätzigen, or nine -part orchestral suite.

Sets

In the first sentence, the strings begin with a brief but atmospheric, and intense topic that is taken up by the woodwinds. This introduction is terminated by harsh chords. British television viewers know this passage from the long-lived monthly astronomy programs at the BBC The Sky at Night, presented by Patrick Moore.

Then in the next sentence the figure of Mélisande is introduced with a characteristic musical motif that is presented by the English horn. This is followed by a brief interlude, followed by the play " On the sea beach ", from the Sibelius said it could be omitted in concert performances (the order is changed every now and then ).

The strings present the dense sonority of the fourth movement, " Spring in the Park " followed by the " Blind Sisters ", in which again the solo English horn will be answered by monolithic harmonies of the orchestra.

The sixth sentence " Pastorale " is designed for woodwinds and strings and brings extremely subtle chamber music.

The 7th set of " Mélisande at the Spinning Wheel " is a comparatively excited piece.

After the lyrical " Intermezzo " ends with " Mélisande's death ", by far the longest piece, the tragic love story.