Johannes Brahms’ Romanzen aus L. Tiecks Magelone are in keeping with the 19th century taste for the Middle Ages and their tales of knights, chivalry and romance set against a Gothic backdrop. Inspired by Volksmärchen (1797) by Ludwig Tieck, the cycle recounts the ill-fated love story between Princess Maguelone of Naples and the knight and troubadour Pierre de Provence.  The fifteen lieder are all intense ruminations, to the point where the performance might seem like a pocket opera, with the elaborate plot, the number of characters (four!) and the piano accompaniment worthy of a symphonic orchestra. To bring this epic work to life, the baritone and MM Ambassador Stéphane Degout and mezzo-soprano Marielou Jacquard will be accompanied by pianist Alain Planès. Actor Roger Germser will narrate, enabling a convergence between theatre and music, speech and song.

Programme

JOHANNES BRAHMS
Die schöne Magelone (L. Tieck), op.33 (1861)