A Hand of Bridge, opus 35, is a one-acter by Samuel Barber on a libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti, and the shortest opera regularly performed: it lasts about nine minutes. Two unhappily married couples of the American upper-middle class are playing a hand of bridge, during which each character sings an arietta uncovering his/her inner desires.

Bluebeard’s Castle (premiered in Budapest in 1918 after a row of rejections and remakes) counts as Bartók’s response to French musical impressionism, particularly to Paul Dukas’ treatment of the same subject as Ariane et Barbe-bleu (1907). The well-known horror tale about a
serial woman-killer is given a happy end of sorts, inasmuch all the Duke’s wives survive in splendid seclusion within his mysterious castle.

Dinner buffet at the end of the Opera
at Sale Apollinee
Friday, January 17 at 7
Ticket 100€ (excluded Opera-ticket)
Write info@festfenice.com
or call us to reserve it +39 041 786672/ 673

CAST

Conductor Diego Matheuz
Director Fabio Ceresa
Choreography Mattia Agatiello
Sets Massimo Checchetto
Costumes Giuseppe Palella
Lighting Fabio Barettin

A Hand of Bridge

David Gidon Saks 
Geraldine Ausrine Stundyte 
Bill Christopher Lemmings
Sally Manuela Custer

The Bluebeard’s Castle

Judit Ausrine Stundyte 
Bluebeard Gidon Saks  
Bard Karl-Heinz Macek

Bluebeard’s wives

Pia Mazza 
Francesca Penzo 
Noemi Bresciani

La Fenice Orchestra

English Surtitles
La Fenice production

The performance lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes, including one interval

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