BBC Philharmonic

Event Information

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Anja Bihlmaier conductor Jennifer Johnston Judith Christopher Purves* Bluebeard Boulanger D’un soir triste Kodály Dances of Galánta Bartók Bluebeard’s Castle Seven doors, and behind each one, a crucial piece of a gruesome puzzle… Bluebeard’s Castle by Béla Bartók sits somewhere between a gothic tale of horror and a psychological dissection of a twisted relationship. Alone in a castle, Judith follows a trail of ever more compelling and grisly clues to unlock the truth about her new husband, horror by horror, door by door. Bartók’s rich orchestration creates a world of shifting colours – glowing warmth, chilling darkness, and eerie suspense. His music is hypnotic, drawing the listener into the unfolding mystery with pulsing rhythms and bold harmonies. More than just a horror story, Bluebeard’s Castle is a deeply human drama about love, trust, and the unknowable depths of another’s soul. Before the drawbridge lowers, a foreshadowing. Lili Boulanger’s D’un soir triste was one of her last completed works before she died at the age of just 24. *Due to unforeseen circumstances, Kostas Smoriginas has had to withdraw from this performance. We are delighted that Christopher Purves will step in as Bluebeard for Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle. There will be no change to the programme.

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