Dialogues des Carmélites: Panel Discussion

Christine Goerke, Ailyn Pérez, Sabine Devieilhe, Jamie Barton, Alice Coote, and revival stage director Sarah Ina Meyers discuss the opera’s key themes and their creative process for this revival. 2022-23 season. Videography by Neville Braithwaite.

[@johnryan7616]

More of this, please! What an interesting conversation and things I hadn't considered about this opera!

[@charlesbeloved7951]

I saw this on Wednesday night. I’ve been to 6 other operas this year at the Met. This, to me, was the best opera production of the year. 😊😊😊😊

[@samueljaramillo4221]

Great video with all these fascinating women and great singers. Wonderful round table discussion.

[@talmagebandy667]

Fascinating discussion by these women. I love this opera ~ have seen it many times but not this particular performance. It always tears my heart out.

[@wotan10950]

Fascinating discussion. “Carmelites” is really a piece that haunts you for days afterward. All these artists are great, and I’ve been a big fan of Christine Goerke’s since I saw her decades ago at Glimmerglass. But what happened to Eva Maria Westbroek? I wanted to see her at least once this season, but she canceled her dates.

[@erinlee7262]

This conversation is so iconic, and I Feel the same way about non males spaces. Women and non binary folks are powerful beings who are meant and deserve to work together!!!

[@lifeisgood3087]

This is like the Miss Universe of opera divas.

[@OlgatheGreat]

How interesting! This was very well done.

[@loboestepario2424]

I think they are looking at this opera through their very contemporary lenses. The piece by Bernanos and, even more, the opera and its music, speak about spiritual awakening and embracing death when your core beliefs are muzzled by a totalitarian power. It is not about "sisterhood", it is mostly about understanding that we are all alone when facing death.

[@sooyangjun7005]

SISTERHOOOOOOD!

[@samysqueekable]

"We're talking about the French revolution, we're talking about the loss of liberties..." I'm not sure what Christine Goerke meant by that, but conflating the French revolution with loss of liberties is misleading at best. A little context, perhaps: -This opera is set during the reign of Terror (1793-94). In a nutshell, this period saw ferocious counter-measures acted by the then revolutionary government in reaction to several crises it was facing. It was a violent period, infamous for the numerous executions that took place against the many people and factions considered to hold counter-revolutionary views. -While the reign of Terror was certainly a part of the French revolution, it does not solely define it. -The French revolution as a whole did not lead to "loss of liberties," quite the contrary. It got rid of absolute monarchy, introduced constitutional monarchy, and made France a republic. "We're talking about women's rights being taken away." Again, misleading. Countless arrests, summary executions, quick trials, massacres and other atrocities happened routinely during the Terror. Anyone deemed an enemy of the revolution, regardless of gender, was targeted. Clergy members ranked pretty high on that list. By continuing to assemble and hold religious office, the Carmélites disobeyed the laws that dissolved all religious congregations. That is why they were condemned to death. I'm all for drawing relevant parallels and learning from history, but let's get history right when we do that.

[@richardvergara]

And now countertenors should be singing in this opera so it could be fair. 😂😂😂😂

[@ransomcoates546]

The opera is about RELIGION, ladies. Try getting some.

[@kccbf70]

The kind of faith that causes real conviction and submission to the higher calling. But the singers are here to celebrate themselves , not the opera.

[@loboestepario2424]

Indeed. They are forcing contemporary views about feminism that are miles away from the original play and the opera.