A forest, a castle and a love triangle between two half-brothers and an elusive girl: welcome to the misty universe of Pelléas et Mélisande. Arnold Schönberg transformed Maeterlinck’s symbolist masterpiece into a compelling symphonic poem.

There is no better answer to Mélisande’s mysterious silence than the work of the Croatian composer Mirela Ivicevic: rebellious, personal, rooted in the now. The Brussels Philharmonic premieres her new violin concerto, with Ilya Gringolts as soloist.

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In 1893, Maurice Maeterlinck penned his play Pelléas et Mélisande, weaving a magical narrative of an impossible love, rich with symbolism, desire, and envy, all cloaked in a misty shroud of enigmatic mystery. The play achieved notable success, establishing Maeterlinck as Belgium’s sole Nobel Prize laureate in literature up until now. Composers like Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, and Jean Sibelius drew inspiration from this tale. Less renowned, yet equally brilliant, is Arnold Schönberg’s rendition in the form of a symphonic poem. He pushed the boundaries of Romantic musical expression to their limits, striving to render the ecstasy and tragedy of the protagonists tangible.

Initial reception was harsh: “The premiere, conducted by me, incited a tumultuous reaction among the audience and even the critics. Reviews were particularly unforgiving, even suggesting my institutionalization and a ban on music paper!” However, perceptions swiftly evolved, and audiences embraced this unusual orchestral work, remarkable for its romantic fervor and intensity.

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as part of

Klarafestival 2024 'Crossroads - coming together'