Acts IV and V of Pelleas et Mélisande - by Debussy
Posted by Timothy M. Ballard at 12:50 PM |
Link to this post
The symbolist doctrine subscribes to the goal of saying the least to communicate the most.
IV i – A Room in the castle
Semiquavers from the hair scene (III,i) with foreboding harmonies. Pelléas and Mélisande agree to meet. Hauntingly, Pelléas sates that “it will be our last night!”
IV ii – Arkel enters looks forward to the return of Joy because of Mélisande, yet he pities her. She appears to him as if she is waiting on something dreadful. I believe the lost crown and the lost ring are of great significance – this is before Freud but highly Freudian.
Golaud enters angry with Mélisande – he examines his own sword (again highly Freudian) and notes that Mélisande has innocent eyes as if the “angels of heaven bathe there.)
Arkel “If I were God I would have pity on the hearts of men.”
IV iii – Yniold is playing and his gold ball is trapped and cannot be moved – this is symbolic of destiny and fate. A flock of sheep pass by and they are not going to the stable – Yniold asks, “where will they sleep tonight?” The sheep are destined for
IV iv The Final Scene
Is this Wagnerian…Is this Anti-Wagnerian – I suggest Wagnerian in orchestration and not vocally.
I believe it to be Wagnerian Symbolism taken to the extreme!
Pelléas declares his love…. “How beautiful it is here the dark”
Pelléas is then killed by his brother with his sword!
V – Arkel know it is over and the Mélisande will die.
Pelléas asks for a window to be opened so that she may see the sun set – she has chosen darkness and it will soon envelope her.
Golaud asks Mélisande if she loved Pelléas – her reply is “Mais oui!”
He asks if she was innocent – she affirms her innocence but Golaud doesn’t believe her and she dies.
All hope for the future is in Mélisande’s daughter!
The symbolist doctrine subscribes to the goal of saying the least to communicate the most.
IV i – A Room in the castle
Semiquavers from the hair scene (III,i) with foreboding harmonies. Pelléas and Mélisande agree to meet. Hauntingly, Pelléas sates that “it will be our last night!”
IV ii – Arkel enters looks forward to the return of Joy because of Mélisande, yet he pities her. She appears to him as if she is waiting on something dreadful. I believe the lost crown and the lost ring are of great significance – this is before Freud but highly Freudian.
Golaud enters angry with Mélisande – he examines his own sword (again highly Freudian) and notes that Mélisande has innocent eyes as if the “angels of heaven bathe there.)
Arkel “If I were God I would have pity on the hearts of men.”
IV iii – Yniold is playing and his gold ball is trapped and cannot be moved – this is symbolic of destiny and fate. A flock of sheep pass by and they are not going to the stable – Yniold asks, “where will they sleep tonight?” The sheep are destined for
IV iv The Final Scene
Is this Wagnerian…Is this Anti-Wagnerian – I suggest Wagnerian in orchestration and not vocally.
I believe it to be Wagnerian Symbolism taken to the extreme!
Pelléas declares his love…. “How beautiful it is here the dark”
Pelléas is then killed by his brother with his sword!
V – Arkel know it is over and the Mélisande will die.
Pelléas asks for a window to be opened so that she may see the sun set – she has chosen darkness and it will soon envelope her.
Golaud asks Mélisande if she loved Pelléas – her reply is “Mais oui!”
He asks if she was innocent – she affirms her innocence but Golaud doesn’t believe her and she dies.
All hope for the future is in Mélisande’s daughter!
