Bluebeard's Castle (A Kékszakállú Herceg Vára), by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók: Plot synopsis, character description, and other Bartók opera information.

Bluebeard's Castle (A Kékszakállú Herceg Vára) by Béla Bartók (1881-1945) is a fantasy, fairy tale opera in one act Produced in Hungarian language, it was composed in 1911, with three revisions - 1912, 1918, and 1921.

• Libretto: Béla Balázs based on a fairy tale.
• First performance: Budapest, Budapest Opera, May 24, 1918.
• Setting: Bluebeard's castle with doors but no windows, time unspecified.

Bluebeard's Castle (A Kékszakállú Herceg Vára) is the only opera of Bartok but not his only stage work. The symbolism of the work, the atmosphere of which remains misty, suggests a warning that a woman who seeks to possess a man's mind too thoroughly, risks losing him.

It is interesting that the richness of Bartoks' Bluebeard's Castle has been accounted to influences of different composers such as Wagner, especially in the form of the Wagnerian colorfully scored melody for the orchestra, and others like Richard Strauss, Liszt and Debussy, also informing us of inventive features of this grim, gothic tale. From all these, the powerful score combines with the rhythm of Hungary's folk music, that Bartok is much dedicated to, making the "tone poem" orchestration highly original, and Bluebeard's Castle becoming a masterful opera.

The Main Characters in Bluebeard's Castle (A Kékszakállú Herceg Vára)

• Count Bluebeard, a baron (bass baritone)
• Judith, his newest wife (soprano or mezzo)
• Speaking: Prologue, The Storyteller
• Mute: Bluebeard's three former wives

Basic plot summary of Bluebeard Castle

Act 1

A spoken Prologue tells us that the scene is as much within ourselves as on the stage.

Bluebeard and and his wife Judith enter through a small iron door. He asks her whether she want to leave her family and follow him into such a place. Judith loves Bluebeard. She is sure. She has left her family for him and is not discouraged by Bluebeard's dark and gloomy castle. He shuts the door.

Judith notices the darkness and the dampness. She sees seven black doors (string chords). She insists that the seven locked and bolted doors be thrown open. She wants to bring light and warmth. Bluebeard responds that it can never be. Bluebeard gives her a key as they proceed to each door.

Behind the first door is Bluebeard's torture chamber, the walls dripping with blood. Bluebeard wonders why Judith wishes to pry into every corner. "Because I love you," she answers. He warns her to be careful.

The second key reveals the armory (trumpet solo), with blood on the weapons.

The third key opens to the Treasury, where the blood is all over the crown and robes.

The fourth key reveals a secret garden, with blood on the roots of the flowers..

Behind the fifth door, she finds Bluebeard's kingdom (solemn chords), and the clouds are red with blood. Bluebeard asks her not to open the final two doors, but Judith insists.

The sixth door conceals a flood of tears (harp and clarinet arpeggios). Bluebeard passionately kisses Judith and tells her not ask anymore questions. Having guessed what is behind the seventh door, Judith inquires about Bluebeard's former wives.

The seventh door conceals Bluebeard's former murdered wives. Judith is locked in with the former wives.

The stage grows dark.

Bela Bartok's Major Works

• Ballet The Wooden Prince
• Ballet The Miraculous Mandarin
• Concerto for Orchestra, his most famous
• String Quartets
• Divertimento for string orchestra
• Concerto for piano, violin, and viola
• Songs arrangements, including folksongs

Sources:

Opera, Dorling Kindersley (DK) Eyewitness Companions (2006)

The Da Capo Opera by Nicholas Ivor Martin (1997)

The Harrap Opera Guide by Sir Alexander F. Morley (1970)