Pelléas et Mélisande (opera)
Pelléas et Mélisande is an opera in five acts with music by Claude Debussy. The French libretto was adapted from Maurice Maeterlinck's symbolist play of the same name. It premiered at the Salle Favart in Paris by the Opéra-Comique on 30 April 1902; Jean Périer was Pelléas and Mary Garden was Mélisande, conducted by André Messager, who was instrumental in getting the Opéra-Comique to stage the work. It is the only opera Debussy ever completed.
Poster by Georges Rochegrosse for the premiere
Maurice Maeterlinck
The first Mélisande, Mary Garden
Jean Périer as Pelléas
(Achille) Claude Debussy was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Debussy c. 1900 by Atelier Nadar
Rue au Pain, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, street of Debussy's birthplace
Debussy by Marcel Baschet, 1884
Gamelan orchestra, c. 1889