B�la Bart�k: Bluebeard’s Castle (Szendr�nyi, Struckman, Inbal, HR) – DENON @flac

Bluebeard’s Castle (Hungarian: A k�kszak�ll� herceg v�ra; literally: The Blue-Bearded Duke’s Castle)
is a one-act opera by Hungarian composer B�la Bart�k. The libretto was written by B�la Bal�zs,
a poet and friend of the composer. It is in Hungarian, based on the French literary tale "La Barbe
bleue" by Charles Perrault. The opera lasts only a little over an hour and there are only two singing
characters onstage: Bluebeard (K�kszak�ll�), and his new wife Judith (Judit); the two have just eloped
and Judith is coming home to Bluebeard’s castle for the first time.

Bluebeard’s Castle was composed in 1911 (with modifications made in 1912 and a new ending added
in 1917) and first performed on 24 May 1918 in Budapest. Universal published the vocal (1921) and full
score (1925). The Boosey & Hawkes’ full score includes only the German and English singing translations
while the Dover edition reproduces the Universal Edition Hungarian/German vocal score (with page numbers
beginning at 1 instead of 5). A revision of the UE vocal score in 1963 added a new German translation
by Wilhelm Ziegler, but seems not to have corrected any errata. Universal Edition and Bart�k Records
has published a new edition of the work in 2005 with new English translation by Peter Bart�k,
accompanied by extensive errata list.

Music Composed by
B�la Bart�k

Played by the
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

with
Katalin Szendr�nyi (soprano)
Falk Struckmann (baritone)

Conducted by
Eliahu Inbal

"In several ways, Bart�k�s only opera represents a more violent counterpart to Debussy�s Pell�as et
M�lisande. The libretto, by B�la Bal�zs, was inspired by Maeterlinck�s dramatisation of the old
Barbe-Bleue tale. Moreover, both Debussy�s and Bart�k�s operas share the same airless, claustrophobic
quality of intensely heightened emotion that characterises late pre-Raphaelite and Symbolist painting.
At the same time, the weird sustained trilling flute identified with Judith evokes the rotted moral
atmosphere of Strauss�s Salome. This recording, made at Frankfurt�s Alte Oper in September 1992
is vivid and compelling. Katalin Szendr�nyi is a sympathetic Judith, though her approach emphasises
the cool restraint of admirable vocal polish rather than involved acting. Falk Struckmann�s Bluebeard,
a bronze-toned bass-baritone, vividly conveys the image of unbridled virility and the monstrous lust
to possess his women. Conductor Eliahu Inbal delivers an extroverted reading of the score, opulent
and substantial in its orchestral coloration. And Denon has done him justice, capturing, for example,
the almost Straussian Zarathustra-like weight and spaciousness that the orchestra achieves in the
brazen section wherein Judith begins to open the doors to blood-red visions."
BBC Music Magazine

The link for this album is dead. Removed.

Enjoy! Don’t share! Buy the original! 🙂

Kertesz is also good but sounds ugly with headphones on.
but Christa Ludwig is amazing and Walter Berry is demonic.