Three-act opera. Libretto based on a work by the Symbolist writer Maurice Maeterlinck. Music by Paul Dukas. First performed on 10 May 1907 at the Opéra Comique in Paris. First performance in Liceu.
Paul Dukas, though influenced by Wagner and Debussy, had a distinctive personality of his own. His hallmarks are his lush orchestration and subtle harmonization.
The opera centres on Ariane, the sixth wife of the cruel Barbe-Bleue, a freedom-loving woman who aspires to set others free. She opens six doors in the castle which all conceal treasure. And then she disobeys her powerful husband by opening the seventh door, behind which his five previous wives are kept prisoner. She leads them out into the open air to enjoy the flowers and the sunshine, but they all refuse freedom and decide to remain in their gloomy prison. Only Ariane walks away, followed by her nurse.
PAUL DUKAS AND ARIANE ET BARBE-BLEUE IN THE NETWORK
Introduction to act 3 - link -
Excerp of Act 1 - link -
Fanfarria de La Peri (Orquesta Sinfónica UANL) - link -
Conductor
- Stéphane Denève
Stage direction
- Claus Guth
Scenography
- Christian Schmidt
Costumes
- Christian Schmidt
Lighting
- Jürgen Hoffmann
Production
- Opernhaus Zürich
Cast
Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet, Katarina Karnéus, Patricia Bardon, Jane Dutton and others.
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu
See the DETAILED PROFILE
Antoni Bofill 
Room
- Sala Principal
Info
PROGRAMME BOOKLET
- Libretto included
- On sale at the Espai Liceu and in the performance dates in the Theatre
Act I 32 min.
Act II 36 min.
Pause 30 min.
Act III 50 min.
TOTAL 2.30 h
Information session
Forty-five minutes before each performance, an information session about the opera, open to all members of the audience, will be held in the Foyer.
Date
Time (select date)
Zone
see diagram