Bartok: Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48, Op. 11

"A spoken introduction, in verse, sets the scene. The first notes of the music establish the atmosphere of the work, but nonetheless it is crucial that this introduction be performed, and in the original language. In this case the speaker is Iván Fischer, as successful at finding the right tone as he is on the podium with the fabulous Budapest Festival Orchestra. The recording is outstandingly rich and lifelike, and the booklet contains the full Hungarian text with English translation, though frustratingly not all the stage directions are translated. There is also a short introduction by the conductor and an excellent essay by Kenneth Chalmers, both in English and in French.

Accepted wisdom says that the Decca recording from 1965, with Walter Berry and Christa Ludwig, conducted by István Kertész, is the classic to have and to hold. I confess to never having heard this reading, but I am very attached to Solti, also on Decca, and to an all-Hungarian performance from 1956 on Hungaroton conducted by János Ferencsik. But I think the very particular view of Bluebeard as embodied in this marvellous performance makes it my preferred choice now."
(Recording of the Month MusicWeb Nov 2011)

"Polgár makes a compassionate Bluebeard, imbuing the part with an appropriate sense of resignation and regret... Komlósi sings [Judith] with admirable insight. Fischer conducts with meticulous care for detail, and has even managed to procure a keyboard xylophone - the rare instrument Bartok specifies for the torture-chamber scene...while there may have been more spectacular versions of this great work, none is more thoroughly idiomatic than Fischer's."
(Five Stars BBC Music Sept 2011)