Duke Bluebeard's Castle

March 25, 2008 5:37 AM

You'll rarely see it staged, so might as well enjoy Bartók's lone opera, Duke Bluebeard's Castle in a beautifully filmed version on YouTube. Libretto in Hungarian, English. And a little introduction and analysis, with a particular eye toward the cryptic prologue.
posted by Wolfdog (10 comments total)

The opening of the fifth door - it's near the end of part 7 in the playlist - will always amaze me. A blaze of purity, awe, and terror, it's as close as I can come personally to understanding what a true fear of god would feel like.
posted by Wolfdog at 5:40 AM on March 25

I read this as 'Bjork's lone opera' because I haven't had my coffee yet. I thought to myself, "what a busy woman."
posted by Pecinpah at 6:06 AM on March 25

(Google tribute you might have missed today)
posted by Wolfdog at 7:19 AM on March 25

That was lovely. Thanks.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:36 AM on March 25

I think Bartok was a fantastic composer, and Bluebeard's Castle is one of his very best pieces so I'm really looking forward to watching this when I get the time. Thanks!
posted by ob at 7:43 AM on March 25

Wow, thank you! Shows why color is overrated. I have no idea if the libretto calls for it, but in my mind the characters were always heavily makeuped, and Bluebeard was a kind of wild freak with ... a ... I'm searching for another way to say it ... this page, this opera, are ... wooly expressions of ...
posted by gorgor_balabala at 8:29 AM on March 25

Thanks for posting this, Wolfdog! Mmmmm, Bartok....looking forward to watching this.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:29 AM on March 25

Not an opera fan, but a big Bartok fan -- will watch happily. Thanks!
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 8:32 AM on March 25

I love Bartók and A kékszakállú herceg vára—thanks much for this post!
posted by languagehat at 9:56 AM on March 25

Thank you, I'm really enjoying this! Btw, if you ever get the chance to see Robert Lepage/Michael Levine's acclaimed production of Bluebeard's Castle and Erwartung, jump at it. I had the privilege of seeing the Canadian Opera Company perform it and the experience was truly a revelation, one of the most atmospheric and awe-inspiring productions I've ever seen. [At the end, the brides actually rise dripping from the blood red 'pool of tears'!]
posted by Kirjava at 10:30 AM on March 25