Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle [download]

Opera Magazine’s Disc of the Month
'Gergiev’s Bluebeard passes beyond shattering into a realm even more deeply disturbing.’

BBC Music Magazine’s Opera Choice of the Month
'Gergiev and his superlative forces and vocal soloists, supported by magnificent sound quality, present the enigmatic piece with great power.'

'All the restless qualities of the underlying and shadowy string themes are sketched in an appropriately unsettling way. Vitally for this score, the woodwind figures add their eerie colours and decorative dissonance to great effect, the clarinet making a particularly telling contribution – wonderful playing... Orchestral textures are remarkably clear and Bartók’s highly individual percussive effects make their full impact. Gergiev is most considerate to his singers, even at the most grandiose and loud moments.'
Classical Source