Bartók - Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Charlotte Hellekant Judith (mezzo-soprano)
Falk Struckmann Bluebeard (bass)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Christoph von Dohnányi conductor

[@dad9447]

Vaya, que sonido límpido y nítido para un cuento maravilloso!!!

[@secularmonk5176]

I'm here because of a new "personal history" of the Habsburg domain by British historian Simon Winder, "Danubia." He includes more than a few asides about the musical traditions of these centuries and how he derives inspiration for his intellectual exploration of Central Europe from them. Bartok comes up in the final chapter, as we await Franz Ferdinand's fate. Early 20th Century arrangements are interesting ... so hard for me to dislodge an association with modern cinematic scores (including, of course, John Williams and Warner Brothers animation).

[@delauge]

That was sublime! Both soloists and orchestra were fantastic.

[@thagirion9761]

It's definitely reminiscent of Stoker's Dracula. I love it!

[@countbartok1766]

Yes, exactly !

[@geoycs]

Excelente!

[@60ECg]

Orchesta playing exceptional. Cor Anglais performance highly nuanced.

[@stevewfreeman]

beautiful production Charlotte Hellekant in particular makes me totally believe in Judith. But Falk Struckman has a wonderful voice

[@coenraetjansen2550]

electrifying

[@etucker82]

This is such an amazing performance. I remember listening to the relay from the BBC and being absolutely blown away. I know I have no right to be anything but grateful for your posting this, but even so, is there any chance to get it posted with the volume at a higher level so people can hear everything about this extraordinary performance?

[@LJBSasha]

+Evan Tucker: Let me please second your request to have this broadcast reposted at a higher volume-level!!! Nothing one does at the receiving end is as effective as what the sender can do. How I wish I could hear everybody better, including that marvellous pipe-organ that Royal Albert Hall is blessed with - truly an instrument that is a most splendid specimen of its species!!! If it were more often heard, it could go far in popularising the organ overall in our culture, back to what it used to be a few centuries ago...

[@TheVaughan5]

Looking forward to Dutoit/RPO performance at this years BBC Proms. It will be great no doubt about that and at least I will be able to hear it as it should be heard - lol.

[@paullewis2413]

The R.A.H/London is too large for many orchestral works, particularly early music, but when it comes to some 20th c compositions such as Duke Bluebeard's Castle it is totally awesome, no recording will do it full justice.

[@madaraszi]

The traduction is a catastrophe. E.g. Instead of "music sounds, the play begins" it says: ~ "music sounds, the flame burns, let the play begin, the lashy curtains of my eyes are raised"

[@mensamoo]

Beats me how Bobby Ball gets to open at the Royal Albert Hall

[@mensamoo]

So she insists on visiting this crank, Insists on opening every door. And the first one is a torture chamber. And she carries on. Turnip. I'd be out of there...

[@marinacaracciolo3161]

@mensamoo - This is a symbolic story: Judith insists because she wants to know the past and all the secrets of the soul of Bluebeard (the seven doors of his castle), and wants to do it only because she loves him... But in the end her suspicions and her unfounded jealousy have the upper hand, so much so that she is forced to abandon forever the castle as they had done the three previous wives (who had not been killed at all!).

[@roffster52]

Sounds like an episode from Criminal Minds

[@slateflash]

I was taking this seriously until the awkward applause at 30:54 during the 5th door. Then I lost it and had to pause the video.

[@LJBSasha]

+slateflash: Such things happen, especially if people don't know the piece that well. All too often they think that when an especially-loud phrase breaks off suddenly, it means the end thereof (or at least a movement)... I wouldn't let it distract me from what's a VERY intense performance of an extremely-intense piece.

[@marinacaracciolo3161]

At min. 30:54 I do not hear applause... Maybe they were removed?

[@thomaskortvelyessy]

Who is the (native) speaker at the very beginning, speaking the prologue? ...

[@nohaylamujer]

Mátyás Sárközi

[@gilles735]

très belle interprétation ! Par contre cette façon de couper l'enregistrement du concert à la fin, ne pas entendre la réaction du public m'énerve prodigieusement, un concert, c'est un partage entre les musiciens et le public !

[@aliegan2109]

29:50

[@mensabs]

17:50 because ... ?

[@marinacaracciolo3161]

@mensabs. At 17:50 Judith says: "because I love you" ("mert szeretlek" in Hungarian)

[@jgesselberty]

The high note at the opening of the fifth door was lame.

[@villovarga3675]

her Hungarian was rather poor, unfortunately