A kékszakállú herceg vára

Duke Bluebeard's Castle is one of those relatively new discoveries where if you'd not heard it before that you are shocked upon hearing at how much you've been missing. Some of the story may be static, on the other hand what more than compensates are the rich atmosphere, the direct simplicity that it has and of course Bartok's music(some of his best). As of now there are two productions on DVD, including this one, both well worth seeing. The one with Robert Lloyd and Elizabeth Laurence is a little bit better, but apart from the artificial transparency of Bluebeard when he shows Judith his kingdom and some stoic, stand-there-and-sing acting from Kolos Kovats this studio filmed production shouldn't be missed. It is reasonably filmed, though very television studio-like, and the visuals are suitably brooding, especially the dungeons. The costumes are fine and the lighting likewise. The orchestral playing matches the music's atmospheric richness, there is a real beauty to their playing and also some very magisterial power. Enigmatic as ever, Georg Solti's conducting brings out the mystery and power that the score should have, and if there is anything that is done better here than to the other production it is that the tension in the door 5 part is far more dramatic. Kolos Kovats' singing is noble, tasteful and stylish, his face is expressive and he looks imposing though you do want more from his actual physical acting. Sylvia Sass has a beautiful voice that bravely tackles the vocal demands of her role as Judith, her affecting mournfulness, exciting anticipation and sense of joyful naivety wholly convincing(as is the chemistry between her and Kovats), making one feel genuinely sorry for her. The final scene is brilliantly done, and the direction on the whole is simple but with brooding intensity and such, not feeling too static. To conclude, well worth seeing and really quite very good with a couple of limitations. 8.5/10 Bethany Cox