This Sunday at 1 pm on WRTI, Yannick Nézet-Séguin indulges his passion for opera, as our Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast brings to the airwaves Béla Bartók’s searing one-act opera Bluebeard’s Castle, and selections from Tchaikovsky's ballet, Swan Lake.
With only two characters, Bluebeard and his latest wife Judit, the tension builds moment by moment in this intense psychodrama. Canadian bass John Relyea, who has appeared in many of the world’s most celebrated opera houses, sings the role of Bluebeard, and mezzo-soprano Michelle De Young, who made her Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 2012, and who has appeared with many of the world’s leading ensembles and major opera houses, is Judit—a name Bluebeard intones, entreats, and extols some 38 times over the course of Bartók’s brilliant one-act opera.
Bluebeard’s Castle unfolds as the seven doors of the castle open to reveal a series of horrors and sorrows endured by Bluebeard’s previous wives. Judit would be well advised not to open the last door, but, as the tension builds in the accelerating lower strings, we know she will open that seventh door before she herself does.
And to begin, we’ll hear selections from Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake! Is there an orchestra in the world that can play this music better than the Philadelphia Orchestra? Be with us to hear extended selections from Tchaikovsky's enduring ballet under Yannick’s direction.
During intermission, WRTI’s Debra Lew Harder speaks backstage with mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung, and Bliss Michelson interviews bass John Relyea.
That’s Sunday, October 1st from 1 to 3 pm on WRTI 90.1. Don’t miss it!
Detailed program notes from the concert
PROGRAM:
Tchaikovsky: Selections from Swan Lake, Op. 20 ?
Act II:
Scene 1
Act III
Arrival of the Guests and Waltz
Spanish Dance
Neapolitan Dance
Russian Dance
Scene 6
Act IV
Dance of the Little Swans
Scene 8
Final Scene
INTERMISSION
Bartók: Bluebeard’s Castle, Op. 11
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
John Relyea, bass (Bluebeard)
Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano (Judit)
Gregg Whiteside is producer and host of the Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts on WRTI, every Sunday at 1 pm on WRTI 90.1 FM, online at WRTI.org, and on our new mobile app! NEW: rebroadcast of Sunday concerts on Mondays at 7 pm on WRTI HD-2, as part of our new "Symphony at 7" lineup!