Pelléas et Mélisande

I enjoyed this performance from Opera National de Lyon for the sets, costumes, orchestral playing and for some of the singing, notably Jose van Dam as Golaud and Francois Le Roux as Pelleas. I compared it with the 2009 Theater an der Wien production, and found it wanting in many ways. The singing in the Vienna set is just so much more committed--just listen to Natalie Dessay singing Melisande with her whole heart in the role, then turn to Colette Alliot-Lugaz's tepid performance in the Lyon set and you have all the reason you need not to buy this DVD.

This is not a bad production so much as it is not an inspired one, and in Debussy with its intimate tone that is unfortunate.