Composition database

This is the Composition Database of BMC, which includes information about works by composers that are either Hungarian or Hungarian by origin or live in Hungary.

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Title of the work

Duke Bluebeard´s Castle, Op. 11, BB 62

Composer
Bartók Béla
Original / Hungarian title
A kékszakállú herceg vára, Op. 11, BB 62
Foreign language / English title
Duke Bluebeard´s Castle, Op. 11, BB 62
Subtitle
Opera in one act
Dedication
"to Márta" (Mrs. Bartók: Márta Ziegler)
Year of composition
1911
Type
Opera
Instrumentation
S., Bar. solo - speaker (ad lib.) - choir - 4 fl. (III, IV anche picc.), 2 c.ing., 3 cl. (III anche cl.b.), 4 fg. (IV anche cfg.) - 4 cor., 4 tr., 4 trb., tuba - timp., perc. (2 esec. - camp., xil., trg., ptti., ptti.sosp., tmb.picc., gr.c., tam-tam) - cel., 2 arpa, org. - strings: vl. 1, vl. 2, vla., vlc., cb.

On stage: 4 tr., 4 trb.
Duration
56 min
Movements, parts
1. Megérkeztünk. - Íme lássad / Here we are now. Now at last you see
2. Nagy csukott ajtókat látok / Ah, I see seven great shut door-ways
3. Jaj! - Mit látsz (1. Ajtó) / Woe! What seest thou? (Door 1)
4. Mit látsz? - Száz kegyetlen szörnyű fegyver (2. Ajtó) / What seest thou? Piles of cruel arms and armour (Door 2)
5. Ó be sok kincs (3. Ajtó) / Mountains of gold! (Door 3)
6. Oh, virágok (4. Ajtó) / Ah! Tender flowers! (Door 4)
7. Nézd, hogy derül már a váram (5. Ajtó) / Look, my castle gleams and brightens (Door 5)
8. Nem akarom, hogy elõttem / Two more doors
9. Csendes fehér tavat látok (6. Ajtó) / I can see a sheet of water (Door 6)
10. Mondd meg nekem, Kékszakállú / Tell me, tell me, dearest Bluebeard
11. Tudom, tudom, Kékszakállú / Now I know it all, oh, Bluebeard
12. Lásd a régi asszonyokat (7. Ajtó) / Hearts that I have loved and cherished (Door 7)
13. Hajnalban az elsõt leltem / The first I found at daybreak
14. És mindig is éjjel lesz már / Henceforth all shall be darkness
Text
BALÁZS, Béla
Language
Hungarian / French / German
Premiere information
24 May 1918, Hungarian Royal Opera House, Budapest; Mihály Székely, Ella Némethy, Symphony Orchestra of the Hungarian Royal Opera House, Sergio Failoni (cond.), Kálmán Nádasdy (dir.)
Publisher / Source
Universal Edition © 1925, 7028 (Renewed by Boosey and Hawkes © 1952)

Universal Edition © 1963, 13641 (Revised edition)


Available here!
Recordings
Deutsche Grammophon 447040-2 - László Polgár, Jessye Norman, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (cond.)
Arlecchino 109; Hungaroton HCD-12254; Hungaroton HCD-11001; Denon 78932; Arlecchino 9; Deutsche Grammophon 457756; Malibran 175; Hungaroton HCD-32096 / 8; Bis 421; CBS 44523; London 414167; EMI 56162; Bluebell 75; Decca 466377; Haenssler 93070; IMG Artists 100; Philips 000151436; Mercury 4756255; Oehms 505; Opera d´Oro 1430; Hungaroton HCD-41002
Remarks, other info
Composed: 1911, revised 1918

German translation: Wilhelm Ziegler, English translation: Christopher Hassalt

Transcribed for solo voices and piano: Universal Edition 7026 (1922) (German and Hungarian), 7030 (German and French)
 

Recordings

Title Publisher
Bartók, Béla: Bluebards Castle Hungaroton
Bartók, Béla: Bluebeard's Castle Hungaroton
Bartók, Béla: Duke Bluebeard's Castle Warner
Bartók, Béla: Bluebeard's Castle, Op. 11 / Sz 48 Hänssler Classic
Naxos
Arthaus Musik
Arthaus Musik
Arthaus Musik
Decca