Paul Dukas: Ariane et Barbe-Bleue – José van Dam & Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet&

Ariane et Barbe-bleue makes its premiere on Blu-ray.

Stéphane Denève is universally acclaimed for his interpretation of French repertoire.

This is the twelfth release from the Liceu-Opus Arte partnership.

Dukas’s opera Ariane et Barbe-bleue, based on Maeterlinck’s symbolist version of the classic tale, sees free spirit Ariane become the sixth wife of the infamous Barbe-bleue, who gives his new bride seven keys to seven doors, but prohibits the use of the last. Ariane discovers an array of glittering jewels behind the first six doors, but a terrifying reality awaits her as she unlocks the seventh.

José van Dam is cast as the villainous Barbe-bleue, while taking on the immensely demanding role of Ariane – who does not leave the stage throughout the entire opera – is American soprano Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet.

Charbonnet copes well with the extreme demands of Ariane, while Patricia Bardon is excellent as the nurse and it is wonderful to have Jose van Dam for Barbe-Bleu’s handful of lines. Most of all, Stéphane Denève’s pacing and handling of orchestral texture are spot-on. One to hear with the screen off. – — BBC Music Magazine, November 2013, 3 out of 5 stars