Bluebeard’s Castle

In his interpretation of the pan-European folk-tale, Belá Bartók reveals the emotional abyss in this gloomy psychological thriller by presenting the seven chambers within Bluebeard’s castle/mind, symbolising his obsessions, with powerfully expressive pictorial and psychological music. While thrillingly sustaining the emotional high tension in this one-act opera, Bartók lays bare the inner tragedy of the doomed relationship between Judith and Bluebeard.

This performance, in English, is performed in the version for chamber orchestra by the co-director of New Palace Opera, Jonathan Finney. This is the latest of his arrangements for smaller orchestras, which include The Marriage of Figaro, Hansel and Gretel, La navaraisse [Massenet] and Oedipus Rex, all for Palace Opera and Der fliegende Holländer and Die Meistersinger for Fulham Opera.

Cast

Duke Bluebeard, Pauls Putnins

Judith, Callie Gaston

New Palace Opera Chamber Orchestra

Conductor, Michael Thorne

1−2pm, Wednesday 22 April 2026, St Peter’s Church, St Albans AL1 3HG

Free admission, collection at end