(Photo credit: Hilary Scott) Last weekend, Symphony Hall was, on a generous account, less than two-thirds full. If you asked anyone why they were there, nine out of ten people would have said: “to listen to Bártok’s Castle.” The few others would be admirers of Alisa Weilerstein, who played the concert’s first half: Haydn’s c-major cello concerto. Chiaroscuro programing. Bartók’s {…}
Opera Southwest is set to present a double bill of Bartok’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” with the “Doctor Atomic Symphony” just in time for Halloween. First on the bill, “Bluebeard’s Castle,” stars Justin Hopkins as Duke Bluebeard and Andrea Hillthe as Judith. Senior set artists from Meow Wolf, Lance Ryan McGoldrick and David Cudney have woven traditional themes, colors, and modern technology {…}
Photo credit: Theatre of Sound Gerald Finley will perform the title role of Bluebeard in Against the Grain Theatre’s upcoming performance of Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle.” Mezzo-soprano Charlotte Hellekant will join Finley as Judith. They will present the modern retelling which the Theatre of Sound first produced. This version depicts the love between a long-married couple and their struggles with the {…}
The Greek National Opera is set to present a double bill of “Bluebeard’s Castle” and “Gianni Schicchi” this March. The production, which features Themelis Glynatsis rendition of the Bartok opera and John Fulljames’ take on the Puccini classic, opens on March 9 and runs for four performances through the 24th, 2023. This is Glynatsis’ first production for the mainstage of {…}
Credit: Raftermen / Mihaela Bodlovic for Theatre of Sound/KSU The Atlanta Opera staged a powerful production of Daisy Evans and Stephen Higgins’ interpretation of Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle,” bringing to light the heartbreaking truth of people living with dementia and their caregivers. In this new production, instead of a collector of wives, Duke Bluebeard is the loving husband of his one and {…}
The Atlanta Opera’s Discoveries Series is set to kick off the 2022-23 Season with Bela Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” on October 7- 9. The opera, which will be presented in association with Atlanta State University School of Music from Kennesaw, will star Michael Mayes and Susan Bullock. It will be directed by Daisy Evans and conducted by Stephen Higgins. “We’ve been {…}
(Credit: Gran Teatre del Liceu official website) The Opéra National de Paris and Gran Teatre del Liceu have announced that they have been forced to postpone the first joint project scheduled for the 2021-22 season. The decision comes on the heels of a drastic increase of COVID-19 cases throughout Europe due to new Omicron variant. The two institutions have agreed {…}
(Credit: Anne Zeuner) The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2022 season, featuring eight operas, concerts, and international opera stars. For the purpose of this article we will focus on the vocal works only. Operas The season opens with Romeo Castellucci’s production of Béla Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle.” The opera stars Mika Kares and Aušrinė Stundytė in the lead roles, alongside soprano {…}
(Credit: Sim Canetty Clarke/ Christina Raphaelle) Gerald Finley and Susan Bullock are two world-class artists who have performed at all the major opera stages the world over. Collectively, they have appeared at The Metropolitan Opera, the English National Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Wiener Staatsoper, Canadian Opera Company, Carnegie Hall, Opera North, La Scala, Sydney Opera, La Monnaie, {…}
The English Symphony Orchestra is set to release a video performance of “Bluebeard’s Castle” between August 13-17, 2021. The showcase will be conducted by Kenneth Woods, who will be joined by April Fredrick as Judith and David Stout as Bluebeard, who previously worked together on “Jane Eyre” in 2016. “Vocally, David and April are perfect for Bartók’s two roles, which {…}
(Credit: Nick Rutter) Gothic Opera is one of the newest fringe opera companies to spring up in London. As the name suggests, they turn to works – generally treading lesser-known paths through the repertoire – that summon the uncanny, the ghoulish, and the frightening. Last week they made west London’s Porchester Hall their home for a new production of Béla {…}