This is one my favourite operas and certainly my favourite modern opera. There are two points in this opera that are truly gripping, musically: the opening bars of dark foreboding music, and when she hits the high note seeing the landscape unfold. That part gives me chills everytime.
The opening of that 5th door with Judit's high C is awesome. The music is a little naive at that point, but I think that is another brilliant stroke by Bartok. It is Bluebeard's most open point in the opera, but he still has a few more doors that he is keeping hidden...
What I like about this opera is that, if you strip out the symbolism, it can still work as a simple spooky story. It's really nice to be able to enjoy something in a thoughtful and casual way: "What do the castle shudders mean?" As well as a "Oooh, creepy, blood's dripping out the walls. Cool."
I have only just listened to this opera after years of loving opera and I find it utterly fascinating, both musically and psychologically!, thank you so much for your great introductory video! Is great to see Robert Lloyd as Bluebeard too, I have heard him in various other operas such as Parsifal. Subscribed! 🎹🎵🎹🎵🎹🎵🎹🎵🙂🙂🙂
It's an art production dream, so much you can do to enrich the story. I saw one production where the lighting had a late 1960's cosmic vibe and it enhanced the mood in a way I've never been able to recapture (gosh darn it, can't find a video anymore).
Posting this just to encourage you to continue 1) the Bluebeard series 2) posting your videos. Good, valuable, serious work on YT needs to be appreciated and encouraged.
Question please my husband inherited a painting from his grandparents which they purchased from bela Bartok in 1945 the painting is signed bela Bartok c
I don't know if Bartok was a painter or not, but I'm sure that he painted a few times. Bartok died in the year 1945. If you have a real painting by him that must be an awesome piece of art!
@@danielkrenz neither did I we've been trying to find information on this painting for quite a while my husband is very picky about who handles it for a while I had a evaluater calling 24/7 trying to get us to relinquish the painting
The other day I learned Bluebeard is not a pirate. I knew he was a fairytale wife-murderer with a door that should never be opened; I just thought he was also a pirate. XD
This is one my favourite operas and certainly my favourite modern opera. There are two points in this opera that are truly gripping, musically: the opening bars of dark foreboding music, and when she hits the high note seeing the landscape unfold. That part gives me chills everytime.
The opening of that 5th door with Judit's high C is awesome. The music is a little naive at that point, but I think that is another brilliant stroke by Bartok. It is Bluebeard's most open point in the opera, but he still has a few more doors that he is keeping hidden...
What I like about this opera is that, if you strip out the symbolism, it can still work as a simple spooky story. It's really nice to be able to enjoy something in a thoughtful and casual way: "What do the castle shudders mean?" As well as a "Oooh, creepy, blood's dripping out the walls. Cool."
This production is beyond words…..I never tire watching it
That production is my favorite one that I have seen. They did a great job especially of making it for TV.
I have only just listened to this opera after years of loving opera and I find it utterly fascinating, both musically and psychologically!, thank you so much for your great introductory video! Is great to see Robert Lloyd as Bluebeard too, I have heard him in various other operas such as Parsifal. Subscribed! 🎹🎵🎹🎵🎹🎵🎹🎵🙂🙂🙂
It's an art production dream, so much you can do to enrich the story. I saw one production where the lighting had a late 1960's cosmic vibe and it enhanced the mood in a way I've never been able to recapture (gosh darn it, can't find a video anymore).
Where was this production? It sounds fascinating!
@@danielkrenz I don't know. Someday I'll find it and post it right here. It used to be on RUclips.
@@danielkrenzPretty sure it was this one. ruclips.net/video/XRbtOM892qc/видео.html
Excellent overview! I wish I had come across this several weeks earlier!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Posting this just to encourage you to continue
1) the Bluebeard series
2) posting your videos.
Good, valuable, serious work on YT needs to be appreciated and encouraged.
Thank you so much! I have more planned for the Bluebeard series, hopefully two more videos.
Really great podcast. The BFI has released 1963 film called Bluebeard’s Castle by Michael Powell on Blu-ray.
Have you seen it.
Thank you.
The absolute best version is the one by Michael Powell. My 2c. Like some magnificent bad dream....
Watch how Judith’s clothes change as the opera progresses……
Question please my husband inherited a painting from his grandparents which they purchased from bela Bartok in 1945 the painting is signed bela Bartok c
I don't know if Bartok was a painter or not, but I'm sure that he painted a few times. Bartok died in the year 1945. If you have a real painting by him that must be an awesome piece of art!
@@danielkrenz neither did I we've been trying to find information on this painting for quite a while my husband is very picky about who handles it for a while I had a evaluater calling 24/7 trying to get us to relinquish the painting
@@deborahsavrnoch7055 Best of luck finding out more information about it. If you learn something more, I would love to know about it!
The other day I learned Bluebeard is not a pirate. I knew he was a fairytale wife-murderer with a door that should never be opened; I just thought he was also a pirate. XD
I keep wondering what the theme of blood symbolizes?
To me, the blood is not the blood of Bluebeard’s wives, but his own blood. The blood from the pain that he has experienced.
To me the blood symbolizes the sadism, dark sexuality, manipulation hence blood as a tainted, dirty symbol of human darkness
@@danielkrenz True, it is his own suffering.