This entire film is available on Youtube, if you search for "Keszakallu Herceg Vara". Of course, this is the opera known in English as "Duke Bluebeard's Castle," composed by Bela Bartok. The main attraction here is the music--this recording is absolutely fabulous, with a smooth, rich bass-baritone standing out especially. It nearly matches Walter Berry and Christa Ludwig for me, even though I have never heard of these Hungarian singers. As for the visual direction, it's...interesting. Both of the actors (not sure if they're the singers) are young and good- looking, and they both portray an air of madness and instability. That tone is what the direction goes for, as the instructions of the libretto are not very literally followed (no garden, no kingdom--in fact, it's played as if Bluebeard is leading Judith through an illusion.) Still, this film is a gem, and anybody who's into this opera or 20th century opera in general should definitely go check it out. If anybody can give me more information on its origin than I have, that would be great.
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