Clef Notes and Drama Queens: Opera Vivente presents adaptation of Debussy's 'Pelleas et Melisande' - Classical music and theater in Baltimore: Critic Tim Smith writes about classical music, opera, theater, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Centerstage, and more

Debussy's "Pelleas et Melisande" is one of the most elusive of operas. The slow-motion, tragic love-triangle plot, infused with symbolism, is surrounded by music of a rare, gauzy beauty.

Opera companies, especially in this country, are reluctant to take a chance on it, afraid of box office results, but magical things can happen onstage with this work. Even, as Opera Vivente just demonstrated, when it is given in a condition the composer never imagined.

"Impressions of Pelleas" is one-act abridgement by Marius Constant that streamlines the action to its essentials and reduces the orchestral score to a two-piano arrangement.

Of course, Debussy's original is incomparable, and, of course, the seductive sound of the orchestra is major part of the opera's appeal.

But Constant's version has considerable quality and is particularly successful in terms of transforming the score to keyboard.

The music sounds natural and idiomatic on the piano, an instrument, of course, that Debussy wrote for so brilliantly. (You could never get that effect reducing operas by Wagner, Verdi and Puccini.)

I caught the final Opera Vivente performance of "Impressions of Pelleas" Saturday night and found the experience

quite satisfying, among the better things I've seen the company do. The cast seemed strongly connected to the piece, and there was an appealing, unfussy, stylized look to the staging -- 19th century evening dress for the principals, a minimal set by Thomas Bumblauskas gently lit by Peter Jakubowski. Director John Bowen paced the action smoothly and evocatively (from what I could see of it -- a couple of very tall folks were sitting in front of me).

Lisa Eden was a telling Melisande in voice and movement, disarmingly girlish and affectingly vulnerable. Kenneth Gayle sounded more Broadway than opera in terms of tone, but phrased effectively, for the most part. Nathan Wentworth, as Golaud, commanded attention with his solid baritone, expressively detailed articulation and vivid acting.

There was sturdy work from Dina Martire (Genevieve) and David B. Morris (Arkel). Boy soprano Samuel Bishop sang the role of Yniold. Pianists Diane Kinsley and Dana Nichole Scott provided a subtle, beautifully nuanced foundation for the performance.

PHOTO (BY CORY WEAVER) OF LISA EDIN AND NATHAN WENTWORTH COURTESY OF OPERA VIVENTE

March 9, 2010

Opera Vivente presents adaptation of Debussy's 'Pelleas et Melisande'

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