Customer Reviews

Béla Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle - Jessye Norman / László Polgár / Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Boulez

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Boulez conducts a cool reading without a trace of Hungarian passion or gothic melodrama, both of which are prominent in any really fine performance. His soloists are vocally suited to their parts, but Norman applies her usual generic grand aloofness and plush vocalism to a role that calls for vulnerability and awe changing to horror, while Polgar simply isn't a major artist in any way.

Bluebeard's Castle has attracted magnificent interpretations over the years, and the fact that great singers like Fischer-Dieskau, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig, Samuel Ramey, and Anne Sophie von Otter have given their all makes this version, despite its good qualities, pretty unnecessary.

All of the elements needed to recreate Bela Bartok's only opera "Bluebeard's Castle" are on this recording - the magician Pierre Boulez, the mighty Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the lustrous Jessye Norman, and the authentic Hungarian Bass Laszlo Polgar. Boulez does draw out superlative playing from the CSO, Norman spins her silvery mezzo effortlessly, and Polgar treats us to the perfectly enunciated Hungarian text. But something remains very cool in this sinister tale of the depths of the human psyche and the dark side of love. Individually all performers are superb, but it is the passion of ensemble that is missing. True, we may hear more detail in Bartok's lushly romantic score, but Norman especially leaves us uninvolved in her bland exploration of the mystery of Judith and her Bluebeard.
A good alternative version, but not the definitive one.

From my experience, this is the first recording of worth in the opera's original language. I have recordings of it in English and German. I have seen a performance from the Met with Norman in it, which was wonderful. However, this was quite a different experience. As is often the case when music is sung in its original language the subtles are very different.

I was at once amazed and thrilled with the result. Norman was exceptional, as seems to be her regular way of doing things, and Polgar a very mysterious Bluebeard. It was the orchestra that disappointed ( now mind you, it was still extremely good! ) because it seemed too studied and less emotional than it should have been.

I must admit I came to this opera only recently, with the Metropolitan Production, and even then had to be brought there by force. I am not a lover of strange sounds and bad harmonies. So much of what was written during this same time period is, for me, a trial to the ear and the endurance. However, I was stunned by the performance ( played with another modern opera, which I was stunned by and actually enjoyed! ), and was really impressed with the work.

I can only recommend that if this type of music is new to you, buy it with great singers with truly great voices of wondrous quality. This recording will not disappoint, and in fact may actually do for you what Norman did for me -- open your ears, eyes, and mind to new and wonderful works.

The thought of this work is intimidating to many prospective listeners. Bartok's achievement as a composer of soaring late romantic melodies and exotic harmony is sometimes eclipsed by his more angular and abrasive modernist works. Devotees of conventional opera may be perturbed by the prospect of a through-composed 60 minute duet without a single recognizable aria. Lovers of wobbly tenor and soprano crescendos may balk at a work written entirely in a dark and low register (indeed it is sometimes performed by a bass and a contralto, memorably so by the warm-hearted husband-and-wife operatic team of Walter Berry and Christa Ludwig).

The answer to those interested but nervous prospective purchasers is, listen without prejudice. The subject matter is at least superficially dark and stark. There are no comforting romantic arias to listen to as you cuddle down in your gondola, but this single CD is crammed with more truth and beauty (not to mention honest romanticism) than a shelf-full of Puccini-esque warbling. From the opening (rarely performed) spoken verse prelude through to the last resigned chord, this work is never anything but rivetting.

Part of the secret is the libretto (which is worth following in translation for the first few spins of the CD). As arguably the greatest composer of the 20th century, Bartok only found one libretto in his entire career that was strong and original enough to get his creative juices flowing. It tells the story, shoe-horned into a single hour-long conversation replayed in real time, of how a curious and provocative young bride discovers the obsessions and emotional baggage of the older man she has just married. In doing so, she navigates Everywoman's journey into married life, pre-figuring the familiarisation, the taking-for-granted, and finally the peaceful acceptance that mark successful co-habitation.

Thus far from being depressing, the fundamental message is uplifting. The drama and tragedy of this awesome composition are woven around the loss of freedom and romantic idealism that is the acceptable price to pay for a long-term committed relationship - a worthy message in an era where prospective couples are often doomed by a reluctance to make mutual concessions.

The voices, the orchestral textures, and the snippets of half-formed melody that morph smoothly from one to the next, are simply devastating. La Norman shows the tonal beauty, dramatic creativity and the discipline of a born liedersinger throughout. Polgar is if possible even more awesome, perhaps through being more comfortable singing in Hungarian rather than from any greater affinity with the music itself. But the real architect of this performance is naturally Boulez, and his real achievement seems to be in his architectural grasp, more even than his astonishing sonic and textural mastery.

Architecture is the crux of this composition. The entire narrative thread is provided by the exploration of locked rooms in a gothic castle. In an opera usually performed in a stylised set with little in the way of physical props, the music has to represent everything: the rooms, the walls, the doors, the windows, the view out of the windows, the objects in the rooms . . . all of which carry a symbolic meaning. The spaces, the silences, the loud/soft dynamics, are essential.

Boulez, the two singers and the Chicagoans are more than up to all this. The digital production sparkles. The packaging is excellent. Unreservedly recommended.

The best way to explain this great work is to listen to it as Bartok's orchestral music interprets the theme behind each door. Judith asks, "Why no windows? No sweet daylight?" None of these questions needs to be answered because the music answers everything. Bluebeard's reference to Judith's father and warnings about proceeding further are close parallels to Jean Cocteau's Beast in his poetic film La Belle et la Bete. There must be a relationship between the two magical works. Appropriately Philip Glass converted Cocteau's film into an opera in the 1990s. As for the doors, Bluebeard warns, "None must see what is behind them"; but we will hear what is behind them in the most remarkable orchestral music imaginable. This opera is one of those uncanny works that seems never to have been performed or heard before the next time you listen to it. Like Poe's House of Usher, the castle seems sentient. Judith says, "I heard your castle sighing" and "Look, the walls are bleeding." Bluebeard agrees: "Stones of sorrow thrill with rapture." Much of the ambience of Bartok's opera depends on the Hungarian language as rendered by Jessye Norman and Laszlo Polgar.

Boulez recorded two times these masterpiece . One with Troyanos and Ninsgern , with the BBC Orchestra is wonderful . After 20 years Boulez recorded one second time .The tempi are faster, the expression more accurate, and the Orchestra is really fantastic . But more fantastic are the singers . Jessye Norman , maybe in her last serious recording ,sings as all the times with a fantastic perfection . From the mezzo notes until the high C she is the perfection as singer.She sang at the Met this role in English.I don't know Hungarian, but Norman's German and French are always perfect.Because of this I suppose that her Hungarian is good too. Laszlo Polgar is by far the best Bluebeard I listened.He is a tender and expressive Bluebeard . The most important: we have here one reality. The reality is that Judith isn't a victim .The victim is Bluebeard. She is strong .Listen the phrase Norman sings ordering the opening of the last door . This is my favorite recording of this masterpiece. The two recordings of Boulez are a constant fountain of pleasure and discoveries .

The Boulez recording of Bluebeard's Castle could well just have become my favourite opera recording! Boulez extracts wonderfull playing from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Bartok's score is terrifically intense. Laszlo Polgar's rich dark voice is a revelation in the title role, however, for me it is Jessye Norman's magesterial performance as Judith which makes the set. The role of Judith makes great use of the glorious, velvety lower range of Norman's voice, yet she is still able to rise to the challenge of the high c of amazement at the fifth door! Fabulous.

The CD captured the essence of Bela Bartok's psychological operatic masterpiece, Blue Beard's Castle. Well deseerved Grammy Award.

You can do better than this recording.

The ups: The orchestra sounds better in this recording than any other recording out there. Laszló sounds wonderful (though he's better in a different recording).

The downs: Pacing is satisfactory. The orchestra moves sluggishly due to Bou-Bou's self-indulgence (sometimes I like it, but other times it's just stupid). Jessye's singing sounds lethargic, flabby, and overweight..but why am I not surprised about that? Also, her Hungarian diction is just about on par with that of Florence Foster Jenkins. :D

No Bartok collector or no opera collector in general should be out of this extremly well conducted and singing set. This is the best Bluebard made ever I think. If I could rate this higher thinking of orchestra, song (in hungerian) and conducting I would have give it 10 stars and pay duoble price for it or more.

If you like modern opera and/or Bartok in general dont hesitate to buy this. Sound is ecxellent, well EVERYTHING is.