Pelléas et Mélisande

Simon will sing Golaud in four performances of Pelléas et Mélisande at the Staatsoper unter den Linden, Berlin, in June and July 2026.

SOUNDBITES

"Simon Keenlyside made the transition from Pelléas to Golaud a while ago, and continues to excel in this music and its drama (or should it be the other way around?) His triangle with Thomas Blondelle and Magdalena Kožená was as credible, revealing, and terrifying as any I can recall."

" Simon Keenlyside ist mit seinem farbenreichen, pianogedämpften Bariton ein Macho-Golaud, wie er im Buche steht. Dennoch wirkt er in unter der Oberfläche liegenden Grauzonen seelisch zerbrechlich. Aus der eigenen Unsicherheit und krankhaften Eifersucht heraus – die Wunde des Ungeliebten trägt in sich wie einen Granatsplitter – wird er schwer schuldig an seiner direkten Umwelt bis zum Mord."

"With his richly coloued baritone—capable of the subtlest *mezza voce*—Simon Keenlyside is the quintessential macho Golaud. Yet, beneath the surface, he appears emotionally fragile. Driven by his own insecurity and pathological jealousy—carrying the wound of the unloved like a piece of shrapnel—he incurs grave guilt in his dealings with those around him, ultimately committing murder."

(Translation by Google Translate)

"Simon Keenlyside, who has long since made the transition from Pelléas to Golaud, offered a deeply human and multifaceted portrayal. If his performance initially lacked some of the character’s darker authority, he became increasingly compelling as jealousy consumed him. The scene with Yniold was especially powerful, exposing Golaud’s desperation, tenderness and cruelty with painful clarity. His helpless attempts to force the child into becoming an accomplice to his suspicions revealed not merely a jealous husband but a profoundly damaged man."