“A Hand of Bridge” is an opera in one act composed by Samuel Barber with libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti and is possibly the shortest opera that is regularly performed: it lasts about nine minutes. It premiered as a part of Menotti’s Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto on 17 June 1959 at the Teatro Caio Melisso. The United States premiere occurred the next year. The opera consists of two unhappily married couples playing a hand of bridge, during which each character has an arietta in which he or she professes his or her inner desires. Andy Warhol, a good friend of Barber’s, designed the cover for the opera’s vocal score.
“Bluebeard’s Castle” is a one-act expressionist opera by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. The libretto was written by Béla Balázs, a poet and friend of the composer, and is written in Hungarian, based on the French literary tale La Barbe bleue by Charles Perrault. The opera lasts only a little over an hour and there are only two singing characters onstage: Bluebeard (Kékszakállú), and his new wife Judith (Judit); the two have just eloped and Judith is coming home to Bluebeard’s castle for the first time.
The conductor is Diego Matheuz, the director is Fabio Ceresa, sets, costumes and lighting by Massimo Checchetto, Giuseppe Palella and Fabio Barettin.
Website: www.teatrolafenice.it
Location: La Fenice Opera House, Venice
Schedule: from January 17th to 25th 2020
Time: Tue, Thu, Fri 7 pm / Sat, Sun 3.30 pm
Ticket: up to € 240
