Dmitri Tcherniakov stages Francis Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites at the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, accompanied by the sought-after conductor Kent Nagano. On stage, Susan Gritton sings the role of Blanche de la Force. The Dialogues of the Carmelites is one of the masterpieces of the 20th century. This opera with historical references is also a great reflection on existential themes such as life, death or religion. In 1789, at the beginning of French Revolution, Blanche de la Force is scared about these events and makes the wishes to become a noun, hoping to be safe in the convent. After having explained her choice to the prioress of the monastery, Blanche becomes Sister Blanche of the Agony of Christ and learns to overcome her fear, talking with the Sisters. When the prioress of the monastery dies, the Sisters are condemned to death during the French Revolution. They decide to take a vow of martyrdom. Afterwards, Blanche will choose to resign to die on the scaffold with her Sisters of the convent. The Russian stage director Dmitri Tcherniakov, whose five stagings have been awarded a Golden Mask and who has already staged numerous operas in great Russian halls, chooses to translate Poulenc's opera in a Soviet context, with a scenery deprived of orniamets, as the reflect in a way of some social structures. Under the baton of the acclaimed conductor Kent Nagano, the Orchestra and choir of the Bayerische Staatsoper perform in a highly poetic way Poulenc's opera

Cataloging source

FRMTV

Characteristic

videorecording

Language note

Sung in French

Other event information

Recorded

PerformerNote

Alain Vernhes (Marquis de la Force) ; Susan Gritton (Blanche de la Force, Sister Blanche of the Agony of Christ) ; Bernard Richter (Chevalier de la Force) ; Sylvie Brunet (Madame de Croisy, the prioress of the monastery) ; Soile Isokoski (Madame Lidoine, Mother Marie of St. Augustine, the new prioress) ; Susanne Resmark (Mother Marie of the Incarnation, sub-prioress) ; Hélène Guilmette (Sister Constance of St. Denis, a young novice) ; Heike Grötzinger (Mother Jeanne of the Holy Child Jesus, the oldest nun) ; Anaïk Morel (Sister Mathilde) ; Kevin Conners (Chaplain of the monastery) ; Ulrich Reiss (First commissioner) ; John Chest (Second commissioner) ; Christian Rieger (Officier) ; supporting soloists ; Bayerisches Staatsorchester ; Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Andrés Máspero, chorus master ; Kent Nagano, conductor

Place of event

Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Germany

Runtime

153

Technique

live action

Dialogues of the Carmelites

Resource Information

The work Dialogues of the Carmelites represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Mid-Continent Public Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Moving Image, Visual Materials.

Context

Work of

Dialogues of the Carmelites Resource Information The work Dialogues of the Carmelites represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Mid-Continent Public Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Moving Image, Visual Materials.

Context

Work of

Dialogues of the Carmelites

Resource Information

The work Dialogues of the Carmelites represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Mid-Continent Public Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Moving Image, Visual Materials.