(2/7) Mauffray conducts Bartok "Bluebeard's Castle"

Bartok Bela: A Kékszakállú Herceg Vára

This second video excerpt begins when Judith first notices the 7 locked doors in Bluebeard's castle (the orchestra happens to play 7 chords here). When Bluebeard says that none may see behind those doors, Judith exclaims "open! open them all!" (in Hungarian "nyisdki") [0:22]. Frantically singing that she wants to bring light into the castle and open all the doors, she pounds on the first door (bass drum) [0:48]. At this point, the music comes to a dead stop, and we hear a mysterious cry like the night wind from within the castle walls! [0:51-54].

Judith wonders at this terrifying sound, and this will be the first of many times that Bluebeard asks her if she is afraid (in Hungarian "felsz-e?") [2:04]. Eventually, Judith begins to plead with him in a sweet and gentle manner to open the door together with her [2:44]. Then she uses a firmer tone and demands the key (Hungarian "kulcsot") [3:30]. He praises her sweet blessed hands and gives her the first key. As she turns the key and opens the lock, once more we hear the eerie sigh from within the castle walls [4:26-30].

The 1st door opens to the sound of Clarinets and Violins playing a minor 2nd (the "blood motive")! A glimmer from within the room casts a red beam of light across the floor. This is Bluebeard's Torture Chamber. When he asks if she is afraid ("felsz-e?"), we then hear the "blood motive" played prominently by the Trumpets [5:26] which accompany a folk-like melody by the Clarinet. The light has revealed that the castle walls are bleeding! Still, Judith says that she is not afraid. At least she has brought into the castle a bit of light which she even compares to a sunrise. Once again, she begins demanding to open the other doors. Bluebeard says that even though his castle trembles, he will give her one more key ...

This performance was recorded at the Hungarian Opera in Cluj, Romania (Transylvania) during the final round of the 2007 Bartok International Opera Conducting Competition where Paul Mauffray was awarded 2nd prize.
www.paulmauffray.blogspot.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bartok
• Bela
• Bluebeard's
• Castle
• Hungarian
• opera
• A
• kekszakallu
• herceg
• vara
• conductor
• Paul
• Mauffray
• Janacek
• Stravinsky

[ThaSchwab]

Not bad. I like the singers in this production, and overall the opera seems to have a good premise.

[HerrWozzeck]

Oh my god! I love this opera to death! Thank you for posting this- there's not enough Bluebeard's Castle on Youtube.

On the interpretation itself, it's a good performance, especially by the orchestra. The percussion doesn't come through in critical parts, though, and some parts are rushed just a bit.

Also, the singers are really good! Judith's voice warbles a little, but it's a good voice nevertheless.

Do you have a video of the actual production? I would love to see that!