Jean-Pierre Ponnelle (19 February 1932 – 11 August 1988) was a French

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

director,

set Set, The Set, SET or SETS may refer to: Science, technology, and mathematics Mathematics *Set (mathematics), a collection of elements *Category of sets, the category whose objects and morphisms are sets and total functions, respectively Electro ...

and

costume designer A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film, stage production or television show. The role of the costume designer is to create the characters' outfits or costumes and balance the scenes with texture and colour, etc. The costume ...

Biography

Ponnelle was born in Paris. He studied philosophy, art, and history there and, in 1952, began his career in Germany as a theatre designer for Henze's opera ''

Boulevard Solitude ' is a ' (lyric drama) or opera in one act by Hans Werner Henze to a German libretto by Grete Weil after the play by Walter Jockisch, in its turn a modern retelling of Abbé Prévost's 1731 novel '' Manon Lescaut''. The piece is a reworking of t ...

''. He was greatly influenced by the work of art director

Georges Wakhévitch Georges Wakhévitch (russian: Георгий Леонидович Вахевич; Georgy Leonidovich Vakhevich; August 18, 1907 in Odessa, Russian Empire – February 11, 1984 in Paris) was a Russian-born French art director. The son of a naval e ...

who also designed sets and costumes for the theatre, the ballet, and the opera. In 1962, Ponnelle directed his first production of Wagner's ''

Tristan und Isolde ''Tristan und Isolde'' (''Tristan and Isolde''), WWV 90, is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the 12th-century romance Tristan and Iseult by Gottfried von Strassburg. It was comp ...

'' in

Düsseldorf Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; archaic nl, Dusseldorp ) is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in ...

. His production of that work at the

Bayreuth Festival The Bayreuth Festival (german: link=no, Bayreuther Festspiele) is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner are presented. Wagner himself conceived ...

in 1981 was widely praised as one of the most aesthetically beautiful in its history. His work throughout the world included stage productions at the

Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is opera ...

and the

San Francisco Opera San Francisco Opera (SFO) is an American opera company founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola (1881–1953) based in San Francisco, California. History Gaetano Merola (1923–1953) Merola's road to prominence in the Bay Area began in 1906 when h ...

; productions for television (Puccini's ''

Madama Butterfly ''Madama Butterfly'' (; ''Madame Butterfly'') is an opera in three acts (originally two) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is based on the short story " Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Lu ...

'' in 1974 notable for performances by

Mirella Freni Mirella Freni, OMRI (, born Mirella Fregni, 27 February 1935 – 9 February 2020) was an Italian operatic soprano who had a career of 50 years and appeared at major international opera houses. She received international attention at the Gl ...

and the young

Plácido Domingo José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French ...

); and filmed versions of operas such as Mozart's ''

Le nozze di Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' ( it, Le nozze di Figaro, links=no, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premie ...

'' conducted by Karl Böhm. His 1969 production of Mozart's then neglected ''

La Clemenza di Tito ' (''The Clemency of Titus''), K. 621, is an ''opera seria'' in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Caterino Mazzolà, after Pietro Metastasio. It was started after most of ' (''The Magic Flute''), the last o ...

'' for the

Cologne Opera The Cologne Opera (German language, German: Oper der Stadt Köln or Oper Köln) refers both to the main opera house in Cologne, Germany and to its resident opera company. History of the company From the mid 18th century, opera was performed in th ...

helped re-establish this work in the repertory. Ponnelle also was a frequent guest at the

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival (german: Salzburger Festspiele) is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer (for five weeks starting in late July) in the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Ama ...

. His productions were often controversial. In 1986, Verdi's ''

Aida ''Aida'' (or ''Aïda'', ) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 Decemb ...

'' at the

Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal ...

, in which he replaced the usual ballet dancers with young boys, was soundly booed and never revived, though Donizeti's ''

Don Pasquale ''Don Pasquale'' () is an opera buffa, or comic opera, in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti with an Italian libretto completed largely by Giovanni Ruffini as well as the composer. It was based on a libretto by Angelo Anelli for Stefano Pavesi's ...

'' earlier at the same theatre had been a triumph, as were his interpretations of well-known works.Chatfield-Taylor, p. 63: "Some critics felt that there was...perversity in Ponnelle's conception of ''(Rigoletto)'' as a flashback that begins with Gilda already dead, lying on the floor during the Prelude". He died in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and ...

in 1988 of a

pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of an artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream ( embolism). Symptoms of a PE may include shortness of breath, chest pain particularly upon breathin ...

following a tragic fall into the orchestra pit during rehearsals for a production of Bizet's ''Carmen'' with the

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ''ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit ha-Yisra'elit'') is an Israeli symphony orchestra based in Tel Aviv. Its principal concert venue ...

conducted by

Zubin Mehta Zubin Mehta (born 29 April 1936) is an Indian conductor of Western classical music. He is music director emeritus of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) and conductor emeritus of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mehta's father was the fou ...

. His son is the orchestra conductor Pierre-Dominique Ponnelle and his nephew is

Jean Pierre Danel Jean-Pierre Danel (born 4 June 1968) is a French guitarist, record producer, music writer, and songwriter. Jean-Pierre Danel has recorded a large number of guitar albums, as well as guitar teaching materials. In 2006, his album ''Guitar Connecti ...

Video recordings

Catherine Malfitano dans Traviata par Claude Truong-Ngoc 1980

* Hindemith: ''

Cardillac ''Cardillac'', Op. 39, is an opera by Paul Hindemith in three acts and four scenes. Ferdinand Lion wrote the libretto based on characters from the short story ''Das Fräulein von Scuderi'' by E. T. A. Hoffmann. Performance history The first per ...

'' –

Wolfgang Sawallisch Wolfgang Sawallisch (26 August 1923 – 22 February 2013) was a German conductor and pianist. Biography Wolfgang Sawallisch was born in Munich, the son of Maria and Wilhelm Sawallisch. His father was director of the Hamburg-Bremer-Feuerversich ...

, Bavarian State Opera and Chorus. Singers:

Donald McIntyre Sir Donald Conroy McIntyre (born 22 October 1934 in Auckland) is an operatic bass-baritone from New Zealand. Operatic career McIntyre made his formal debut as Zaccaria in ''Nabucco'', at the Welsh National Opera, in 1959. In 1964 he created ...

, Maria de Francesca-Cavazza, Robert Schunk, Hans Günter Nöcker. DVD: DGG 0044 007 3432 4 * Massenet: ''

Manon ''Manon'' () is an ''opéra comique'' in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel '' L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'' by the Abbé Prévost. It was firs ...

'' –

Ádám Fischer Ádám Fischer (born 9 September 1949 in Budapest) is a Hungarian conductor. He is the general music director of the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, chief conductor of the Danish Chamber Orchestra, and chief conductor of the Düsseldorfer Sy ...

, Chor und Orchestre der Wiener Staatsoper. Singers:

Edita Gruberová Edita Gruberová (; 23 December 1946 – 18 October 2021) was a Slovak coloratura soprano. She made her stage debut in Bratislava in 1968 as Rosina in Rossini's ''Il barbiere di Siviglia'', and successfully auditioned at the Vienna State Opera ...

, Francisco Araiza, Pierre Thau, Hans Helm. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4207 7 * Monteverdi: ''

L'Orfeo ''L'Orfeo'' ( SV 318) (), sometimes called ''La favola d'Orfeo'' , is a late Renaissance/early Baroque ''favola in musica'', or opera, by Claudio Monteverdi, with a libretto by Alessandro Striggio. It is based on the Greek legend of Orpheus, and ...

'' –

Nikolaus Harnoncourt Johann Nikolaus Harnoncourt or historically Johann Nikolaus Graf de la Fontaine und d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt; () (6 December 1929 – 5 March 2016) was an Austrian conductor, particularly known for his historically informed performances of music ...

, Das Monteverdi-Ensemble des Opernhauses Zürich. Singers:

Philippe Huttenlocher Philippe Huttenlocher (born 29 November 1942) is a Swiss baritone. Life and career He was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He first studied violin at the conservatory in Neuchâtel, and then voice in Fribourg. In 1972, he won the international sin ...

Dietlinde Turban Dietlinde Turban (born 27 August 1957 in Reutlingen in Germany) is the birth name and stage name of Dietlinde Turban Maazel, a German actress. Her brother is the violinist Ingolf Turban. Dietlinde Turban's first stage appearance at the age of ...

Trudeliese Schmidt Trudeliese Schmidt (7 November 1942 − 24 June 2004) was a German operatic mezzo-soprano who had an international career, performing at major opera houses and festivals in Europe. The singer with a remarkable stage presence excelled in trouser ro ...

, Francisco Araiza, Christian Boesch. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4163 6 * Monteverdi: ''

Il ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria ''Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria'' ( SV 325, ''The Return of Ulysses to his Homeland'') is an opera consisting of a prologue and five acts (later revised to three), set by Claudio Monteverdi to a libretto by Giacomo Badoaro. The opera was first p ...

'' –

, Das Monteverdi-Ensemble des Opernhauses Zürich. Singers
Werner Hollweg
Francisco Araiza, Janet Perry. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4278 7 * Monteverdi: ''

L'incoronazione di Poppea ''L'incoronazione di Poppea'' ( SV 308, ''The Coronation of Poppaea'') is an Italian opera by Claudio Monteverdi. It was Monteverdi's last opera, with a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello, and was first performed at the Teatro Santi Giovanni ...

'' –

, Das Monteverdi-Ensemble des Opernhauses Zürich. Singers: Rachel Yakarbr>Werner Hollweg

Paul Esswood Paul Lawrence Vincent Esswood (born 6 June 1942) is an English countertenor and conductor. He is best known for his performance of Bach cantatas and the operas of Handel and Monteverdi. Along with his countrymen Alfred Deller and James Bowman ...

. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4174 2 * Mozart: ''

Mitridate, re di Ponto ''Mitridate, re di Ponto'' ('' Mithridates, King of Pontus''), K. 87 (74a), is an opera seria in three acts by the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto is by , after Giuseppe Parini's Italian translation of Jean Racine's play '' Mithrida ...

'' –

, Concentus Musicus, Wien. Singers: Gösta Winbergh,

Yvonne Kenny Yvonne Kenny AM (born 25 November 1950) is an Australian soprano, particularly associated with Handel, Mozart and bel canto roles. Biography Born in Sydney, she first studied at the University of Sydney in science, hoping to become a biochemi ...

, Ann Murray, Anne Gjevang, Joan Rodgers
Peter Straka
DVD: DGG 0440 073 4127 8 * Mozart: ''

Idomeneo ' (Italian for '' Idomeneus, King of Crete, or, Ilia and Idamante''; usually referred to simply as ''Idomeneo'', K. 366) is an Italian language opera seria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto was adapted by Giambattista Varesco from a Frenc ...

'' –

James Levine James Lawrence Levine (; June 23, 1943 – March 9, 2021) was an American conductor and pianist. He was music director of the Metropolitan Opera from 1976 to 2016. He was terminated from all his positions and affiliations with the Met on March 1 ...

, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Singers:

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numero ...

Ileana Cotrubaș Ileana Cotrubaș (; born 9 June 1939) is a Romanian operatic soprano whose career spanned from the 1960s to the 1980s. She was much admired for her acting skills and facility for singing opera in many different languages. Life and career Cotrub ...

Hildegard Behrens Hildegard Behrens (9 February 1937 – 18 August 2009) was a German operatic soprano with a wide repertoire including Wagner, Weber, Mozart, Richard Strauss, and Alban Berg roles. She performed at major opera houses around the world, and receive ...

, Frederica von Stade, John Alexander. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4234 3 GH 2 * Mozart: ''

'' – Karl Böhm, Vienna Philharmonic. Singers:

Hermann Prey Hermann Prey ( Berlin, 11 July 1929 – Krailling, 22 July 1998) was a German lyric baritone, who was equally at home in the Lied, operatic and concert repertoires. His American debut was in November 1952, with the Philadelphia Orchestra an ...

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (28 May 1925 – 18 May 2012) was a German lyric baritone and conductor of classical music, one of the most famous Lieder (art song) performers of the post-war period, best known as a singer of Franz Schubert's Lieder, ...

Kiri Te Kanawa Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa , (; born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron, 6 March 1944) is a retired New Zealand opera singer. She had a full lyric soprano voice, which has been described as "mellow yet vibrant, warm, ample and unforced". Te ...

Maria Ewing Maria Louise Ewing (March 27, 1950 – January 9, 2022) was an American opera singer. In the early part of her career she performed solely as a lyric mezzo-soprano; she later assumed full soprano parts as well. Her signature roles were Blanche, ...

Paolo Montarsolo Paolo Montarsolo (16 March 1925 – 31 August 2006) was an Italian operatic bass particularly associated with buffo roles. Biography Montarsolo was born in Portici. After vocal studies in Naples and Milan, he made his debut at the Teatro San Car ...

. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4034 9 * Mozart: ''

Così fan Tutte (''All Women Do It, or The School for Lovers''), K. 588, is an opera buffa in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was first performed on 26 January 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte ...

'' –

, Vienna Philharmonic. Singers:

Delores Ziegler Delores Ziegler (born 4 September 1951) is an American mezzo-soprano who has had an active international performance career since the late 1970s. A former resident artist at the Cologne Opera, she has performed leading roles with many of the world ...

Teresa Stratas Teresa Stratas (born May 26, 1938) is a retired operatic soprano from Canada of Greek descent. She is especially well known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's '' Lulu''. Early life and career Stratas was born Anastasia Stratakis t ...

, Luis Lima, Ferruccio Furlanetto,

. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4237 4 * Mozart: ''

Die Zauberflöte ''The Magic Flute'' (German: , ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a ''Singspiel'', a popular form during the time it was written that includ ...

'' –

, Chor und Orchestre der Wiener Staatsoper. Singers:

Peter Schreier Peter Schreier (29 July 1935 – 25 December 2019) was a German tenor in opera, concert and lied, and a conductor. He was regarded as one of the leading lyric tenors of the 20th century. Schreier was a member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor conducte ...

, Christian Boesch, Walter Berry,

Martti Talvela Martti Olavi Talvela (4 February 1935 – 22 July 1989) was a Finnish operatic bass. Born in Hiitola, Finland (now in the Republic of Karelia), the eighth of ten children

. DVD: ArtHaus 107 199 * Mozart: ''

La clemenza di Tito ' (''The Clemency of Titus''), K. 621, is an ''opera seria'' in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Caterino Mazzolà, after Pietro Metastasio. It was started after most of ' (''The Magic Flute''), the last o ...

'' –

, Vienna Philharmonic. Singers:

Tatiana Troyanos Tatiana Troyanos (September 12, 1938 – August 21, 1993) was an American mezzo-soprano of Greek and German descent, remembered as "one of the defining singers of her generation" (''Boston Globe''). Her voice, "a paradoxical voice — larger ...

Carol Neblett Carol Lee Neblett (February 1, 1946 – November 23, 2017) was an American operatic soprano. Life and career Neblett was born in Modesto, California and raised in Redondo Beach. She studied at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1969 ...

, Catherine Malfitano, Eric Tappy, Anne Howells, Kurt Rydl. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4128 5 * Orff: ''

Carmina Burana ''Carmina Burana'' (, Latin for "Songs from Benediktbeuern" 'Buria'' in Latin is a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts mostly from the 11th or 12th century, although some are from the 13th century. The pieces are mostly bawdy, irreverent ...

'' (Original Source) –

Kurt Eichhorn Kurt Peter Eichhorn (4 August 1908 – 29 June 1994), was a German conductor. Eichhorn was born in Munich, the son of a painter. He studied music at the conservatory in Würzburg with Hermann Zilcher and progressed through provincial houses. His ...

, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks & Münchner Rundfunkorchester. Singers:

Lucia Popp Lucia Popp (born Lucia Poppová; 12 November 193916 November 1993) was a Slovak operatic soprano. She began her career as a soubrette, and later moved into the light-lyric and lyric coloratura soprano repertoire and then the lighter Richard Str ...

John van Kesteren John van Kesteren (4 May 1921 in The Hague – 11 July 2008 in Jupiter, Florida) was a Dutch operatic tenor.

. DVD: RCA 74321 852859 ''(Currently available in PAL format only)'' * Puccini: ''

'' –

Herbert von Karajan Herbert von Karajan (; born Heribert Ritter von Karajan; 5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 34 years. During the Nazi era, he debuted at the Salzburg Festival, wit ...

, Wiener Philharmoniker. Singers:

Christa Ludwig Christa Ludwig (16 March 1928 – 24 April 2021) was a German mezzo-soprano and occasional dramatic soprano, distinguished for her performances of opera, lieder, oratorio, and other major religious works like masses, passions, and solos in symp ...

, Robert Kerns, Michel Sénéchal. DVD: DGG 00440 073 4037 * Rossini: ''

L'Italiana in Algeri ''L'italiana in Algeri'' (; ''The Italian Girl in Algiers'') is an operatic ''dramma giocoso'' in two acts by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Angelo Anelli, based on his earlier text set by Luigi Mosca. It premiered at the Teatro San ...

'' –

, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Singers:

Marilyn Horne Marilyn Horne (born January 16, 1934) is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer. She specialized in roles requiring beauty of tone, excellent breath support, and the ability to execute difficult coloratura passages. She is a recipient of the Natio ...

, Douglas Ahlstedt,

Allan Monk Allan James Monk, (born August 19, 1942) is a Canadian baritone singer. He appeared in the 1982 film adaptation of ''La Traviata''. Early life Monk was born in Mission, British Columbia, and grew up in Burnaby, British Columbia, where both of ...

, Myra Merritt. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4261 9 * Rossini: ''

Il barbiere di Siviglia ''The Barber of Seville, or The Useless Precaution'' ( it, Il barbiere di Siviglia, ossia L'inutile precauzione ) is an ''opera buffa'' in two acts composed by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based ...

'' –

Claudio Abbado Claudio Abbado (; 26 June 1933 – 20 January 2014) was an Italian conductor who was one of the leading conductors of his generation. He served as music director of the La Scala opera house in Milan, principal conductor of the London Symphony ...

, Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala. Singers:

Teresa Berganza Teresa Berganza Vargas OAXS (16 March 1933 – 13 May 2022) was a Spanish mezzo-soprano. She is most closely associated with roles such as Rossini's Rosina and La Cenerentola, and later Bizet's Carmen, admired for her technical virtuosity, mu ...

Luigi Alva Luis Ernesto Alva y Talledo, better known as Luigi Alva (born 10 April 1927 in Paíta, Peru) is a Peruvian operatic tenor. A Mozart and Rossini specialist, Alva achieved fame with roles such as Don Ottavio (in ''Don Giovanni''), Count Almaviva ( ...

Enzo Dara Enzo Dara (13 October 1938 – 25 August 2017) was an Italian basso buffo. ''Opera News'' described him as "one of the most famous Italian basses on the opera stage nown forportraying a cluster of touchstone roles that highlighted his natural ...

. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4039 4 * Rossini: ''

La Cenerentola ' ('' Cinderella, or Goodness Triumphant'') is an operatic ''dramma giocoso'' in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti, based on the libretti written by Charles-Guillaume Étienne for the opera ''Cendrillon'' ...

'' –

, Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala. Singers: Frederica von Stade, Margherita Guglielmi, Laura Zannini, Francisco Araiza,

Claudio Desderi Claudio Desdèri (9 April 1943 – 30 June 2018) was an Italian baritone and conductor. Life Born in Alessandria, son of Ettore Desderi, he made his debut in 1969 as Gaudenzio in Rossini's ''Il signor Bruschino'' in Edinburgh. A versatile bari ...

, Paul Plishka. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4096 7 * Verdi: ''

Rigoletto ''Rigoletto'' is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play '' Le roi s'amuse'' by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had co ...

'' –

Riccardo Chailly Riccardo Chailly (, ; born 20 February 1953) is an Italian conductor. He is currently music director of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, since 2016, and music director of La Scala, since 2017. Prior to this, he held chief conducting positio ...

, Wiener Philharmoniker und Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor. Singers:

Ingvar Wixell Karl Gustaf Ingvar Wixell (7 May 19318 October 2011) was a Swedish baritone who had an active international career in operas and concerts from 1955 to 2003. He mostly sang roles from the Italian repertory, and, according to ''The New York Times'' ...

, Ferruccio Furlanetto. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4166 7 * Verdi: '' Falstaff'' –

Sir John Pritchard Sir John Michael Pritchard, (born Stanley Frederick Pritchard, 5 February 1918 – 5 December 1989) was an English conductor. He was known for his interpretations of Mozart operas and for his support of contemporary music. Life and career Pritch ...

, London Philharmonic & Glyndebourne Chorus. Singers:

Donald Gramm Donald John Gramm (February 26, 1927 – June 2, 1983) was an American bass-baritone whose career was divided between opera and concert performances. His appearances were primarily limited to the United States, which at the time was unusual for an ...

Benjamin Luxon Benjamin Matthew Luxon (born 24 March 1937, Redruth, Cornwall) is a retired British baritone. Biography He studied with Walther Gruner at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (while working part-time as a PE teacher in the East End) and est ...

Kay Griffel Kay Griffel (born December 26, 1940, in Eldora, Iowa) is an American operatic spinto soprano. Early life and education After earning a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University, she pursued further studies with Lotte Lehmann at the Music Aca ...

, Elizabeth Gale, Max René Cosotti,

John Fryatt John James Fryatt (7 July 1927 – 7 January 2011) was an English actor and opera singer best known for his performance in comic character roles. Fryatt began his career with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1952 in Gilbert and Sullivan roles, ...

, Bernard Dickerson, Ugo Trama, Nucci Condo, Reni Penkova. DVD: Arthaus 101 083 * Wagner: ''

'' –

Daniel Barenboim Daniel Barenboim (; in he, דניאל בארנבוים, born 15 November 1942) is an Argentine-born classical pianist and conductor based in Berlin. He has been since 1992 General Music Director of the Berlin State Opera and "Staatskapellmeist ...

, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele. Singers: René Kollo,

Johanna Meier Johanna Meier (born February 13, 1938) is an American operatic soprano. She has been described as "one of the foremost Wagnerian sopranos of her era".

Matti Salminen Matti Kalervo Salminen (born 7 July 1945) is a Finnish operatic bass, now retired, who has sung at the most important opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan and Bayreuth Festival. He is distinguished by an imposing figure and ...

Hermann Becht Hermann Becht (19 March 1939, Karlsruhe – 12 February 2009, Marxzell) was a German operatic bass-baritone. He notably portrayed the role of Alberich in the 1983 recording of Richard Wagner's ''The Ring Cycle'' which won a Grammy Award for ...

, Hanna Schwarz. DVD: DGG 0440 073 4321 0

References

Bibliography

* Kristina Bendikas, ''The Opera Theatre of Jean-Pierre Ponnelle'', Lewiston/NY (E. Mellen Press) 2004. * Max W. Busch & Margit Saad-Ponnelle, ''Jean-Pierre Ponnelle'', 400 p, env. 350 photos n/b & couleurs, ''Henschel Verlag'', Berlin 2008. – * Vera Lùcia Calabria, ''Jean-Pierre Ponelle und die Kamera. Anmerkungen zu Ponnelles Umgang mit den Medien'', in: Jürgen Kühnel/Ulrich Müller/Oswald Panagl (eds.), ''Das Musiktheater in den audiovisuellen Medien. »...ersichtlich gewordenen Taten der Musik...«'', Anif/Salzburg (Müller-Speiser) 2001, pp. 276–294. * Chatfield-Taylor, Joan, ''San Francisco Opera: The First 75 Years'', San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1997, * Imre Fabian, ''Imre Fabian im Gespräch mit Jean-Pierre Ponnelle'', Zürich/Schwäbisch Hall (Orell Füssli) 1983. * Kii-Ming Lo, ''Der Opernfilm als Erweiterung der Bühne. Versuch einer Theorie anhand von Jean-Pierre Ponnelles »Rigoletto«'', in: Jürgen Kühnel/Ulrich Müller/Oswald Panagl (eds.), ''Das Musiktheater in den audiovisuellen Medien. »...ersichtlich gewordenen Taten der Musik...«'', Anif/Salzburg (Müller-Speiser) 2001, pp. 264–275. * Kii-Ming Lo, ''Die filmische Umsetzung der Ouvertüren von Mozarts Opern durch Jean-Pierre Ponnelle'', in: Jürgen Kühnel/Ulrich Müller/Oswald Panagl (eds.), ''»Regietheater« ─ Konzeption und Praxis am Beispiel der Bühnenwerke Mozarts'', Anif/Salzburg (Müller-Speiser) 2007, pp. 364–375. * Kii-Ming Lo, ''Ein desillusionierter Traum von Amerika: Jean-Pierre Ponnelles Opern-Film »Madama Butterfly«'', in:

Sieghart Döhring Sieghart Döhring (born 12 December 1939) is a German musicologist and Opera researcher. Career Born in Biskupiec, East Prussia, Döhring studied musicology, theology and philosophy in Hamburg and Marburg/Lahn. In 1969 he gained a doctorate at t ...

/Stefanie Rauch (eds..), ''Musiktheater im Fokus'', Sinzig (Studio Punkt Verlag) 2014, pp. 219–236. * Kii-Ming Lo, ''Sehen, Hören und Begreifen: Jean-Pierre Ponnelles Verfilmung der »Carmina Burana« von Carl Orff'', in: Thomas Rösch (ed.), ''Text, Musik, Szene ─ Das Musiktheater von Carl Orff'', Mainz etc. (Schott) 2015, pp. 147–173. * Kii-Ming Lo, ''»Im Dunkel du, im Lichte ich!« ─ Jean-Pierre Ponnelles Bayreuther Inszenierung von »Tristan und Isolde«'', in: Naomi Matsumoto et al. (eds.), ''The Staging of Verdi & Wagner Operas'', Turnhout (Brepols) 2015, pp. 307–321. * Various authors (ed.), ''Ponnelle in München, 1952–1988'', Exhibition catalogue of the Bavarian State Opera, München (Bayerische Staatsoper) 1991.

External links

"Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, 56, Is Dead; Was Opera Director And Designer"

John Rockwell John Sargent Rockwell (born September 16, 1940) is an American music critic, dance critic and arts administrator. According to ''Grove Music Online'', "Rockwell brings two signal attributes to his critical work: a genuine admiration for all ki ...

, ''New York Times'', 12 August 1988 * "Grand Operator", ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...

'', (London), 13 August 1988 (Obituary)
IMdB entry for Ponnelle listing major productions for film, TV, and stage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ponnelle, Jean-Pierre 1932 births 1988 deaths Theatre directors from Paris French opera directors French scenic designers French costume designers Deaths from pulmonary embolism Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery