The most Catholic opera: Dialogues of the Carmelites w/ Robert Reilly | Catholic Culture Podcast 152

[@jgesselberty]

A monumental work that is so relevant, today, as we see attacks on Catholicism both externally and internally.

[@DianaTrent]

My parents and I went to this production in the early 2000s at the Met, and found it totally mesmerizing and moving in a particular way for my Dad, who had earned a Divinity degree from Dunwoodie Seminary. During intermission, Mom and I were stuck in the interminable ladies' room line but noticed Dad was having a conversation with a slight priest with a modest gold chain under his jacket. Turns out, Dad said later, he was chatting with Cardinal Avery Dulles!

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Wow, that's great! Seems like every Catholic I know in NYC went to this latest run.

[@Highinsight7]

There are a number of us who are OBSESSED with this work... For me, personally, it's my favorite musical masterpiece of them all!

[@jacktaggart2489]

The John Dexter production of 'Dialogues des Carmelites' at the MET is extraordinary. The MET appears to take great care in in each revival of this most riveting work. The faith of the Carmelite Sisters is the foundational theme of the work. Nearly everyone can appreciate the sisters' solemn commitment to their vows even to death. The 'Salve Regina' which concludes the work is devastating and must be witnessed in a wonderful production for full effect.

[@loge10]

The performance I saw in the movie theater was incredible. Wish they would put it out on DVD-or, even better, Blu-ray.

[@maryvilim3971]

Thank you so much for including the clips, they add so much to listening to your conversation (here and in your other videos). An amazing nonfiction book about the Carmelite nuns is To Quell the Terror by William Bush (1999). Extremely well researched.

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Thanks for watching!

[@roysibaja5111]

Hi! Can you analyze the 1960 film version of Dialogue of the Carmelites? That would be great!

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@jgesselberty]

Listen to those that four notes of the Agnus Dei. They are the same in the introduction to the Dialogues.

[@jefferyrowley8873]

This Opera IS one of the best ever written - Poulenc wrote some awesome music. Another super important and equally as famous an opera is Saint François d'Assise by my favorite composer Olivier Messiaen. Messiaen was a very devout Catholic. Being an Organist I am a big promotor of his music. He also wrote for pretty-much every type of musical group. You should also listen to his "Quatuor pour la fin du temps " or "Quartet for the end of time" it was written in a WWII concentration camp and was written down years later by the composer.

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Thanks for your comment!

[@jgesselberty]

Essentially agree, but Poulenc is more approachable. Messiaen's work is magnificent, but aloof to the average listener.