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

Bartok Bela: A Kékszakállú Herceg Vára

Composed in 1911, the opening of this opera depicts the entrance to a dark unlit castle (perhaps in Transylvania). The pentatonic introduction by the low strings is made up almost entirely of the black notes on the piano. By contrast, at the climactic opening of the 5th door later in the opera (4/7), when there will be the most light in the castle, the entire orchestra will play C major and pan-diatonic chords based on the white notes on the piano.

The Duke Bluebeard (in Hungarian "Kekszakallu") guides his new bride Judith into his castle and asks if she is uncertain about entering. [3:00] She says that she has left her parents and siblings to be with him, and she will never leave him. [3:30] Bluebeard embraces Judith, and then [3:50] he locks the main door behind them. As they proceed, we hear the low strings play a steady pentatonic figure in the bass (this could be compared to a "walking bass" in jazz) [4:05].

Judith asks why there are no windows open, and in the dark, she feels that the castle walls are damp. This is the first occurrence of the "blood motive" (interval of a minor 2nd) played on the French Horns and echoed by the Flutes and Oboes [5:10]. The music becomes livelier and agitated [7:00] as Judith eagerly proclaims that she will dry these walls and bring light into his castle. Bluebeard solemnly replies that his castle will always remain dark [7:50], and the "walking bass" figure returns as they continue into the castle ...

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

[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.

[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