Le Grand Macabre, Barbican Centre

For the Barbican Centre’s 2015-16 season, maverick director Peter Sellars (Don Giovanni) joined forces with Berlin Philharmonic chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle for a semi-staged performance Debussy’s Pelleas and Melisandre. Following a chorus of glowing reviews, in 2017 they will return to the same venue to perform another masterpiece of twentieth century opera. This time round they will replace the shimmering romance of Debussy with something altogether more angular and absurd: Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre (1974-77). Last seen here at the London Coliseum in La Fura des Baus’ phenomenal 2009 production, this two-night run will be one of the contemporary music highlights of the year.
Rattle will be joined by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the latter directed by Simon Halsey. The eight-strong cast promises to be stellar. Among others, bass-baritone Pavlo Hunka will share the stage with tenor Peter Hoare, mezzo Ronnita Miller and countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo.
Based on Michel de Ghelderode’s 1934 play, Le Grand Macabre takes audiences into a hellish world of grotesques and madness inspired by Brueghal’s paintings. It centres around the diabolic prince Nekrotzar and his plans to cause the apocalypse. With only drunks and bawds standing in his way, how can he possibly fail?
Ligeti’s only opera is a bundle of contradictions that nevertheless cohere to create an entirely coherent world. As the plot hurdles from operatic grace to complete pandemonium, the music follows, alternating lyricism with burlesque. At this relatively advanced point in his career, Ligeti developed a spritely and eclectic style that encompasses sounds previously unheard of in the classical realm – the opera even opens with a choir of car horns. But don’t let this put you off – Le Grand Macabre’s sense of fun makes it accessible for even opera sceptics. And in the proven hands of Rattle and Sellars, it is likely to be spectacular.
Tickets for the Barbican Centre’s 2016-17 season open to the general public at 10am on 10 Feb. Members booking opens at the same time on 3 Feb, while Members Plus can purchase from 1 Feb.