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Symphony Hall

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Infernal Dance: Duke Bluebeard's Castle in Birmingham

Symphony Hall
Fri 21 Oct 2011 7:30pm

Esa-Pekka Salonen	conductor
Sir John Tomlinson	Bluebeard
Michelle DeYoung	Judith
Juliet Stevenson	narrator
Nick Hillel	director

Debussy	Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Janáček	Sinfonietta
Bartók	Duke Bluebeard's Castle (semi-staged)

Please note Measha Brueggergosman will be replaced by Michelle DeYoung.

A Philharmonia Orchestra production in collaboration with Yeast Culture

A co-commission with the Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon and Konzerthaus Dortmund

Infernal Dance is supported by The Meyer Foundation

Reviews

The Guardian

Birmingham Post

The Times (subscribers only)

Opera Larks Blog

The extraordinary Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, Bartók’s only opera, is widely regarded as his masterpiece. Its world is sinister, dark and deeply disturbing. There are just two voices throughout, Duke Bluebeard and his new wife, Judith; the entire one-act opera takes place in the hall of Bluebeard’s castle. Judith opens the hall’s seven doors, one by one; each door reveals its own horror. In one, a torture chamber; in another, an armoury filled with bloody weapons; and in another, a garden where blood stains the plants’ leaves. The final door opens and reveals Bluebeard’s three former wives, who step forward and receive Judith into their eternally imprisoned group. This is chilling, psychological drama, one of the great achievements of 20th century music.

This production has been created by the Philharmonia Orchestra in collaboration with digital artist collective Yeast Culture. Specially created films will be used as video projections onto unusual projection surfaces, surrounding the Orchestra as it performs Bartók’s score. These immersive projections create an evocative atmosphere that suggests the different rooms in Bluebeard’s castle and the emotions of the two protagonists.

More concerts with Salonen:

Salonen conducts in London

May 16 2013, 19:30 - Royal Festival Hall

Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts an all Shostakovich programme including a concert performance of his unfinished satirical opera Orango

more info

Woven Words, Lutosławski Centenary in London

Mar 21 2013, 19:30 - Royal Festival Hall

Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Lutosławski's Les espaces du sommeil, with Matthias Goerne; Chain 2, with Jennifer Koh; Fourth Symphony and Ravel's Suite, Ma mère l'oye and La Valse

more info