Dialogues Des Carmelites - Francis Poulenc (2010)

L'action se situe à Paris et à Compiègne. Elle débute en avril 1789. Blanche de la Force annonce à son père son intention d'entrer au Carmel. La mère supérieure du couvent de Compiègne la reçoit et lui demande d'exposer les raisons qui la poussent à rejoindre cet ordre religieux. Devenue novice, Blanche va vivre les derniers jours de la congrégation mise à mal par la Révolution française. La troupe envahit le couvent, mais Blanche réussit à s'échapper. Les ordres religieux sont supprimés et les religieuses sont condamnées à mort. Elles montent à l'échafaud en chantant le Salve Regina. Après bien des hésitations, des doutes sur sa raison d'être, Blanche les rejoint.

The opera Dialogues of the Carmelites is the only opera the French composer Francis Poulenc has ever written. It is based on the screenplay Die begnadigte Angst by Georges Bernanos. The material for the opera is based on actual historic events. Poulenc converges religion and revolution: The young Blanche de la Force who suffers from existential fear all life long, escapes into a convent hoping to conquer her paralysing fear of life and death. Even the walls of the convent cannot stop the French Revolution. The nuns of the Carmelite Order fail to resist it and accept to die in martyrdom. Fascinated by their constancy finally Blanche overcomes her angst and follows her sisters to the scaffold.

This dramatic opera in three acts had its debut performance at La Scala in Milan in 1957. With its religious theme this opera takes a special position in the theatre of music in the 20th century. Poulencs clear and insistent musical language is perfectly interpreted by conductor Simone Young and the Philharmoniker Hamburg. This production showcases big, vibrant voices from all age categories who are not only brilliant in singing but also in acting. Besides the great musical performance, the main reason for the huge success of the opera is stage director Nikolaus Lehnhoff. His simplistic stage design together with the mystic light installation this opera guarantees great listening and also an amazing viewing pleasure.