Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Duke Bluebeard's Castle (Bartók). Libretto by Béla Balázs; 1 act; first performance Budapest 1918, conducted by Egisto Tango.

Legendary times: Judith has married Bluebeard and returned with him to his castle, which is gloomy and damp. There are seven doors in the big hall. She wants to open a door to let in light and warm air. Bluebeard gives her a key. She opens the first door and finds the walls covered in blood - it is a torture chamber. Behind the second door is Bluebeard's armoury, also bloodstained. The third reveals the treasury of jewels and robes (with blood on them), the fourth the garden (blood-spotted flowers), the fifth Bluebeard's kingdom (the clouds above are blood-red). Despite his reluctance, she opens door No. 6 to reveal a lake of tears. Judith questions Bluebeard and realizes he has killed his former wives. As the seventh door swings open of its own accord, three former wives appear. Bluebeard dresses Judith in the gown, jewels, and crown she has brought from the treasury and she follows the other wives back through the last door, which closes behind them, leaving Bluebeard once again alone.