A loud moan comes from the family circle and I don’t want to think about what they’re doing. He wears long blonde hair and coat like he’s out of an Anne Rice novel. What he really needs is a raincoat and to be on 42nd Street. If any opera were going to inspire an asshole like this, bluebeard’s Castle would be the one. It is full of masochism and machismo. People near him get up and move their seat.
It is about poisoned relationships, but who hasn’t fooled themselves into thinking they could change a partner. I’m sure the moaning guys significant other has. If only she wouldn’t put the egg shells back in the container, if only he didn’t drop food on the floor, or if only he didn’t have a basement full of corpses; then we’d be happy.
Nothing could prepare us for the psychological battle of Bluebeard’s Castle. It has become an oft referenced in-joke when we come across something dark or disturbing, espcially regarding relationships.
This American Psycho style opera is singular in tonality and feels like a child of Debussy in its undulations. the trust between the leads is apparent, especially Angela Denoke as Judith who lets herself be so emotionally and physically vulnerable for the performance.
So what is Bluebeards Castle all about? It begins with Judith who is in love with the title character. He has brought her to his home. She has heard rumors of his crimes but believes that her love can change him and she begs him to let her see the secrets he hides behind seven doors. Will she change him or become just another of his ill-fated wives? In the original story she is rescued by her seven brothers.
Listen for:
The oboes and clarinet
Notes on the production
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Composer…………………………….… Bela Bartok
Judith……………………………………… Angela Denoke
Duke Bluebeard……………….…….. Gerald Finley
Conductor……………………………… Henrik Nanasi
Metropolitan Opera
2/1/19