Philharmonia Orchestra: Infernal Dance: Duke Bluebeard's Castle in London

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Infernal Dance: Duke Bluebeard's Castle in London

Royal Festival Hall
Thu 3 Nov 2011 7:30pm

conductor

piano

Bluebeard

Judith

Juliet Stevenson

narrator

Nick Hillel

director

Debussy

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

Bartók

Piano Concerto No. 3

Bartók

Duke Bluebeard's Castle (semi-staged)

Please note that Measha Brueggergosman will be replaced by Michelle DeYoung

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.

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
The Philharmonia is grateful to the Edwin Fox Foundation for its support of this concert.

Click here to view an interactive online version of the Autumn-Winter 2011/12 season brochure.