Poulenc-"Dialogues des Carmelites"-Finale-Sop LAURA AIKIN

[Jitpring]

Those disgusting Jacobins of the French Revolution. Just think, they actually did this. And much more!

Go to audiosancto org and type French Revolution into the search box. Then listen. Devastating.

Also go to amazon and search for this list: Counter-Revolutionaries, Unite!

[lvgraham]

So beautiful and moving, it brought me to tears. I love the way the light makes the image of a dove from the breast and arms of the nun at the very end. So fitting, as their sacrifice brought about peace and transformation.

[lauthomas5]

@anamorphosys85, d'accord avec vous concernant le côté "suspense" bien qu'en dernier ce sera toujours Constance et Blanche, mais personnellement la gestique me déplaît, je trouve que ça fait un peu soirée annuelle de la "gym-dames" du 3ème âge!

[lauthomas5]

Je me demande si les bonnes soeurs pratiquaient le tai chi avant de monter à la guillotine durant la Révolution ??? Dommage.... la musique est si belle ainsi que les voix d'ailleurs!

[anamorphosys85]

@lauthomas5 c'est une mise en scène ! et une belle en plus selon moi. on ne sait/voit pas avant qui va ensuite à la guillotine (au contraire d'une mise en scène "classique" ou "traditionelle") et on tient le suspense comme ca. comme LoudCitizen a déjà dit : c'est le theâtre, c'est pas tout littéral.

[anamorphosys85]

@basselyrique: that's what I think too. I saw the opera a few days ago in the Theater an der Wien in Vienna with Carsen's staging and there was such a tension at that final scene with that choreography that a collapse would have disturbed it. The choreography might imply the community sense of the Carmelite nuns facing death together. I don't think that the gestures are too much. In fact it's quite minimalistic in my opinion as it emphasizes their strong faith and believe towards that situation.

[gnw1944]

Productions like this do NOT answer the question of HOW they died !! To deny this SERIOUSLY compromises the power of impact !

[LoudCitizen]

@gnw1944 That's a very silly comment. Of course this production answers the question of how they died. You can clearly hear the guillotine every time one of them drops. This is theatre, everything is not supposed to be literal.

[galisonlau]

Very great idea and beautiful gestures!!! BUT with extremely poor angels and focus of the camera!!!!! Ruined the whole picture of this scene!!!!!

[ozzycouture]

I love this performance because it emphasizes the music, specifically the harmony of the four last nuns (quartet @4:00 ) as it dissolves into the last two nuns (duet @ 4:39). In most versions on YouTube, you cannot hear the harmony this clearly. Absolutely heavenly. I also like the subtitles with the libretto

[shaun20483]

Very strong scene

[mariagianna624]

Awesome.

[JOSQUINMA]

Bravo Carsen!

[MidSummerOpera]

OMG it's marvellous!

[waltermontani]

super carsen!!!!!!

[initlabor]

Laura SEI FANTASTICA!!!

a presto :-)

[Xnoxi]

C'est quoi cette aérobic avant le supplice? nul

[giorgioot]

è una delle regie più sorprendenti e geniali...io c'ero, tutte le sere era un'emozione fortissima e poi ...che musica sublime!

[GVCatullo]

Anche per me è stato uno spettacolo bellissimo: fatto con niente (probabilmente per ricordare anche la povertà dell'ordine carmelitano), ma con tante idee.

[Operaforlife55]

Laura Aikin, BRAVA !! Definitely a performance worth remembering. Thank you for what you gave us.

[LolitaNavokov]

PHILIPPE GIRAUDEAU (choreographer of this)is just a genius. I had the pleasure of working with him in Oviedo Opera´s production of the Carmelites. Amazing man. (Hey, Philippe, I´m one of the spanish supernuns! Please, come back soon!)

[zamolxis7]

Je prefere la variante de l'Opera du Rhin. C'est encore plus simple et plus poignant. C'est sur youtube. Ceci dit, cette chorégaphie je ne la trouve pas mauvaise. Ca ne distancie rien... l'émotion reste aussi forte.

[luseem16]

I agree but I imagine Carsen and Giradeau were faced with Italian singers refusing to collapse as they did in Strasbourg.

[basselyrique]

@luseem16 You imagine so? The Strasbourg production was directed by Marthe Keller. Btw, a collapse in this staging would have killed the tension created by the choreography.

[ottolo88]

I was at LaScala that night. a tremendous discovery, I'll never forget Poulenc's Dialogues. Still shiver when think aboyt that performance

[Mezzorama]

It looks like macabre cheerleading. What I like about other productions is the humanity. It's not about each nun's death, it's the horror of the ones left behind and what's ahead for them. Having 16 dead nuns strewn on the stage is just shock value. Having NO ONE left - now that's something to think about.

[tenorismo]

The correography could symbolize their prayers riseing. Pslam 41" Let my  pray arise in they sight as insence".

[peeks64]

I have seen the original in Milano at the Scala, to be precise at the Archimboldi Theater, because the Scala was closed for remodeling. I felt that the correography was great and that it helped a lot. It was very austere and centered. No fancy costumes etc. I say two thumbs up¡

[mpuma]

quelle dommage que cette choregraphie vienne distancier ce final terrible et poignant!!!

[Toscarpia]

But why this choreography ? Totally unnecessary, for me... Think about simplicity , all you directors : it often rewards !

[peeks64]

Incredible how beautiful it is!

[visualdigiart]

amazing...!! breathtaking..!!

sorprendente !

[Gilmarcita]

Really Good!,,, This is a great play