The Chicago Symphony Orchestra embarked on an Impressionistic wallow with French Reveries and Passions, a three-week festival of French symphonic and operatic masterpieces led by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Opera lovers flocked to Symphony Center for two events: Ravel’s enchanting L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (seen May 8) and CSO’s first performances of Debussy’s enigmatic Pelléas et Mélisande (seen May 15)
The dynamic Finnish conductor was preparing to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's first-ever performances of Debussy's "Pelleas et Melisande" – already a formidable task, given the daunting demands this operatic masterpiece places on performers. This semi-staged concert performance was the much-anticipated centerpiece of the CSO's "Reveries & Passions" festival of French music curated by Salonen.
