Classical Review: Iolanta/Duke Bluebeard’s Castle

Omniplex, Mahon 

Mariusz Trelinski brought all of his cinematic experience to bear in his production of these two, one-act operas for the latest MET Live in HD presentation.

There is a tenuous connection between the stories. Each features a central male character (King René, Iolanta’s father/the eponymous Duke) who controls the heroines. René does so to protect his blind daughter, while Bluebeard is a serial killer. While there were several incongruous, though brilliantly cinematic, features in this production, the overall effect of the set, costume, and lighting was riveting.