Bluebeard's Castle

Bluebeard's Castle is is a one-act Symbolist opera by composer Béla Bartók to a Hungarian libretto by poet Béla Balázs.

The original text

Based on La Barbe bleue by Charles Perrault. The opera tells the story of Judith, who leaves behind her peaceful life to become the bride of Duke Bluebeard. Stepping into his dark, enigmatic castle — a place shrouded in ominous rumours that mirror its mysterious owner – Judith is determined to uncover his secrets.

First performed on 24 May 1918 at the Royal Hungarian Opera House in Budapest.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1956/1957: Presented by University of Cape Town Opera Company on tour to London and Glasgow, with Desiree Talbot as Judith and Gregorio Fiasconaro as Duke Bluebeard at Chisholm's Festival of South African Music and Musicians performed by College of Music staff and students.

1973: Presented by CAPAB Opera.

2025: Presented by Cape Town Opera at the Wave Theatre as part of Cape Town Opera Shorts: a Festival of Short Operas! directed by Berlin-based Victoria Stevens, starring William Berger and Siphamandla Moyake, with production design by Allegra Bernacchioni, video design by Kirsti Cumming, lighting design by Luke Ellenbogen, musical direction by Jan Hugo, Jeremy Silver, and José Dias.

Sources

https://capetownopera.co.za/shorts-opera-festival/

Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Stellenbosch.

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