Dialogues des Carmélites (Sir Simon Rattle, Robert Carsen), Royal Opera House

We are extremely excited to see none other than Sir Simon Rattle come to Covent Garden to conduct Poulenc’s deeply moving Dialogues des Carmélites . Based on Gurtrud von Le Fort’s 1931 novella Die Letzte am Schafott (The Last on the Scaffold), Dialogues des Carmélites tells the story of the public execution of a group of Carmelite nuns shortly after the French Revolution. 

Taking much of its musical material from liturgical hymns, the opera confirms Poulenc’s reputation as an extraordinary writer for voices. Although it is scored for a fairly large orchestra, Dialogues des Carmélites reins in the tutti orchestral pomp that adorned many of the operas of the time in favour of an altogether more delicate sonic palette, in many places limiting the orchestration to small, and intricately matched combinations of instruments.

Robert Carsen’s stylish direction is stripped down, props-wise, but makes use of stunning lighting effects that simultaneously direct the flow of the narrative while reflecting the individualistic sparkle in Poulenc’s score. The lead role was initially set to be sung by Magdalena Kožená, but her withdrawal has paved the way for British soprano Sally Matthews. Having recently played the timid Blanche in the Bavarian State Opera's take on this remarkable work, she is likely to deliver the role with aplomb. We are also looking forward to seeing the beautiful Anna Prohaska as Constance, a playful role that will no doubt suit her down to the ground.

We have, of course, been skirting around the fact that the great Sir Simon Rattle himself will be conducting, which is no doubt one of the reasons tickets are selling so fast. Be quick before they all go.

Dialogues des Carmélites will be performed at the Royal Opera House on May 29, and June 2, 4, 7, 9 and 11.