Duke Bluebeard's Castle

In the mind’s darkest corners, a shadow waits.

21 Mar–23 Mar 2024

As Judith unlocks room after room in the castle of her new husband, Duke Bluebeard, we follow her deeper and deeper into the recesses of his troubled imagination.

Her descent takes us through a torture chamber, an armoury, a treasury and a garden, until we find a mysterious seventh chamber which holds her fate.

Bartok’s opera is as taut and gripping as a thriller, but it resists easy categorisation. At once a study of an obsessive, violent man and an allegory of the battle of the sexes, Bluebeard’s Castle is a powerful story that incites thought as well as suspense.

Presented as a semi-staged concert performance by two internationally acclaimed performers in an hour of gripping psychodrama. This production is a two-hander, with versatile soprano Allison Cook singing Judith and Canadian singer John Relyea, one of today’s finest basses, as Bluebeard. It is conducted by Martyn Brabbins, ENO’s Director of Music. The ENO will be performing this production in Hungarian, the original language with English surtitles displayed about the stage.

Running Time
1hrs 05mins

There is no interval.

Access

We have an Access Scheme for our audiences with a disability, a health condition, or different access needs to ensure everyone has a comfortable and enjoyable visit.

Tickets
Tickets start at just £10 plus £3.75 booking fee and £1.50 Building Levy per ticket. A maximum of £10.50 per transaction is charged.
Language
Sung in Hungarian, the original language with English words displayed above the stage (Surtitles)

Age guidance: 12+

For more information, please contact our box office on 020 7845 9300 or [email protected]

Duke Bluebeard's Castle 2024 Creative Team

Duke Bluebeard's Castle 2024 Cast