B�la Bart�k�s (1881-1945) only opera, BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE, follows Bluebeard and his new wife Judith as Bluebeard shows Judith his castle. Judith is intrigued by seven locked doors, which Bluebeard reluctantly lets her open. Judith grows more worried after opening each door and discovers Bluebeard�s three other wives behind the seventh. Bart�k intended the opera as a wedding present for his wife, M�rta Ziegler. BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE premiered on May 24, 1918 in Budapest. The opera is often performed in concert but is staged less frequently due to the difficulty of B�la Bal�sz� Hungarian libretto. German translation by Wilhelm Ziegler included in this vocal score.