(1/7) Mauffray conducts Bartok "Bluebeard's Castle"

[roward48]

Bluebeard has some really great orchestral writing in Bartok's middle period "impressionist" style, which includes the Four Orchestral Pieces and The Wooden Prince. I'd love it if someone arranged an orchestral suite from the opera for those of us who are not dyed in the wool operatic fans. The orchestration is so phenomenal that I think it deserves to be heard on it's own. Your performance brings out all of the nuances wonderfully. My benchmark is Dorati's recording with the LSO.

Bob

[richardmix]

Nice!  Are the singers native speakers?

[paulmauffray]

yes, this was recorded in Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania. Cluj has two full-time operas: the Romanian National Theater, and the Hungarian State Opera. I believe this is the only theater in Romania where everyone speaks Hungarian.

[darahbee]

bring on those 7 doors!!! i like the pensive atmosphere you bring to this, it feels like something is going to happen. cant say that for most recordings i hear. 2 thumbs up!

[paulmauffray]

thanks David! coming from you, that's a great compliment because you really know your Bartok well.