Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle

[Mirror Image]

This one arrived (it was cheap at MDT)

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Not  bad, I like the singer who portrays Bluebeard a lot in this recording, and Judith is also well sung.  Perhaps the most satisfying version I have listened to so far, although ironically the sound of the orchestra in this multi-channel SACD is not as satisfying as Kertesz's mid-60's recording with the same orchestra.  I have one more Bluebeard to listen to, the Adam Fisher recording on Columbia (they are still selling it under the CBS masterworks logo, rather than Sony).

I was less impressed with this Bluebeard. I think it failed to reach the heights of Kertesz's (or even Eotvos' for that matter) recording and also the vocalists weren't in the same league as Berry or Ludwig. I also thought the audio quality was nowhere near as good as the other Bluebeard recordings I own.

[Brahmsian]

MI (John), or anyone else?  I have recommendations for CD recordings.

Any recommendations for DVD recordings?  I am trying to start collecting opera on DVD.  Only have 2 so far.   

[Mirror Image]

MI (John), or anyone else?  I have recommendations for CD recordings.

Any recommendations for DVD recordings?  I am trying to start collecting opera on DVD.  Only have 2 so far.   

I don't own any DVDs of Bluebeard's Castle, but I've read this one is quite good:

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To my knowledge, only Adam Fischer and Solti have put out videos for this work.

[Brahmsian]

I don't own any DVDs of Bluebeard's Castle, but I've read this one is quite good:

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To my knowledge, only Adam Fischer and Solti have put out videos for this work.

Oooh, thanks John.  I love Kultur opera productions.  They are generally top notch!

[Mirror Image]

Oooh, thanks John.  I love Kultur opera productions.  They are generally top notch!

I'll probably buy this at some point as well.

[Mirror Image]

Since Bluebeard's Castle doesn't include but two characters, it's a really static opera. Most of the emotional or dramatic weight comes from the psychological aspect of the work, which occurs between Judith and Bluebeard. There isn't much action, which I think like Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande it doesn't make for that interesting of a stage production.

[bhodges]

As far as I know there are only two DVDs of Bluebeard available; I've only seen the one below with Solti and the LPO, and like it very much. The singers - Kolos Kováts and Sylvia Sass - are excellent; the production is slightly on the campy side, with a sort of oddly Baroque feel. (I actually like it.) Kováts's costume, with its high collar, makes him look like some 1950s sci-fi ruler of Jupiter, and the contents of the seven doors are effective, but in a sort of "non-high-tech" way. (One friend said the sets reminded him of Star Trek.) That said, Solti was excellent in this score and it shows.

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--Bruce

[Brahmsian]

Wonderful, thanks for the recs, guys!

[MDL]

As far as I know there are only two DVDs of Bluebeard available; I've only seen the one below with Solti and the LPO, and like it very much. The singers - Kolos Kováts and Sylvia Sass - are excellent; the production is slightly on the campy side, with a sort of oddly Baroque feel. (I actually like it.) Kováts's costume, with its high collar, makes him look like some 1950s sci-fi ruler of Jupiter, and the contents of the seven doors are effective, but in a sort of "non-high-tech" way. (One friend said the sets reminded him of Star Trek.) That said, Solti was excellent in this score and it shows.

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--Bruce

Got that on VHS God knows how long ago. Love it. Must get the DVD.

[Mirror Image]

Heads up Bartokians!

Cross-posted from the 'New Releases' thread:

Loads of interesting recordings coming out in February and March, but this one has especially caught my eye:



Coincidently, this recording comes out my birthday (March 10th). Pretty excited about this release because I've been hearing Salonen conducts a great Bluebeard.

[Ken B]

Over a period of 30 years I heard just about everything Bartok wrote. Except Bluebeard, which I avoided. Not a big opera fan, opera in Magyar? early work. Until i bought the Rattle box and heard the except. I went to the store -- brick and mortar -- and paid list price, which I never do, for Kertesz. Wonderful, I love this score.

My gf won't listen to it, alas. Neither will she to Facing Goya, which I love even more. 

[Mirror Image]

Over a period of 30 years I heard just about everything Bartok wrote. Except Bluebeard, which I avoided. Not a big opera fan, opera in Magyar? early work. Until i bought the Rattle box and heard the except. I went to the store -- brick and mortar -- and paid list price, which I never do, for Kertesz. Wonderful, I love this score.

My gf won't listen to it, alas. Neither will she to Facing Goya, which I love even more. 

For me, Bluebeard's Castle is easily one of the best operas ever composed.

[Ken B]

For me, Bluebeard's Castle is easily one of the best operas ever composed.

It's an astonishing score. What are good recordings? I have Kertesz as I said. I am listening to Dohnanyi and it sounds a little underpowered. The excerpts I heard of Alsop were way way too tame.

I can't buy anything for 3 weeks -- I have taken the CDCDCD pledge --but for future reference. Is Elder in English any good?

[Ken B]

I mean on CD, not video.

[knight66]

I have Boulez, a marvelous shimmering soundscape, but I suspect that the version you have will be more visceral. Jessye Norman sounds wonderful, but from another opera.

Mike

[Mirror Image]

It's an astonishing score. What are good recordings? I have Kertesz as I said. I am listening to Dohnanyi and it sounds a little underpowered. The excerpts I heard of Alsop were way way too tame.

I can't buy anything for 3 weeks -- I have taken the CDCDCD pledge --but for future reference. Is Elder in English any good?

Boulez/BBC SO on Columbia (Sony) is excellent. Ivan Fischer's on Channel Classics is also very good. Another one I enjoyed was Peter Eotvos' on Hanssler (I believe this recording is OOP now).

[Mirror Image]

Another great Bluebeard is Haitink's on EMI, which has long been OOP:



I paid about $25 in used, like new condition a few years ago. Anne Sofie von Otter sounds gorgeous here.

[Ken B]

Another great Bluebeard is Haitink's on EMI, which has long been OOP:



I paid about $25 in used, like new condition a few years ago. Anne Sofie von Otter sounds gorgeous here.

Thanks for this and the others. I'll keep my eyes out.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Ivan Fischer's on Channel Classics is also very good.

+1 for Fischer's recording, which I actually have on Philips, the label of origin. +1 also for Haitink's version. I know Bruce has always been a fan of this one, too.




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[Daverz]

+1 for Fischer's recording, which I actually have on Philips, the label of origin.
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It's also available as a hi-rez download from Channel Classics:

http://www.channelclassics.com/dsd/fischer-90311.html