Peter Sellars in conversation with Sarah Willis (15 min.)

The staging of the two Bach Passions with the Berliner Philharmoniker by Peter Sellars already enjoy legendary status. So it was no great surprise that the American was chosen when the orchestra appointed a director for the first time as its Artist in Residence. The central project of this partnership was the staging of Debussy’s only completed opera Pelléas et Mélisande which celebrated its successful premiere just before the Christmas holidays in 2015. In this interview, Sellars talks to horn player Sarah Willis about the inspirational collaboration with Sir Simon Rattle and the Philharmoniker, and explains why Debussy’s quiet masterpiece is especially suited to a staged performance in the Philharmonie.