Each time Béla Bartók's one-act opera and pantomime are premièred together, they attract an unusual level of interest. Both works dissect the inexplicable mysteries and profundities of the relationship between man and woman, which can be interpreted in a number of different ways on the stage. Csaba Káel's production opts for a psychological approach to the meeting between Bluebeard and Judith, in keeping with the original intentions of Béla Balázs and Béla Bartók. In the case of the dance drama, choreographer Balázs Vince extracts from the character of the Mandarin an allegorical depiction of indomitable desire for the fulfilment of the fate of the mysterious man and the girl enticing him with erotic dance. The late Zoltán Kocsis, the world's most inspired interpreter of Bartók's oeuvre, also reinterpreted the score and conducted the performance following every last one of the composer's intentions. For Kocsis, who dedicated his life to the works of Bartók, this was his final performance at Müpa Budapest. In this documentary film introducing the programme, the creative team and Kocsis himself analyse the works. A film directed by Judit Várbiró.

Bluebeard's Castle
Conductor: Zoltán Kocsis
Judith: Andrea Szántó
Bluebeard: Gábor Bretz
Prologue: Károly Mécs
Featuring: Hungarian National Philharmonic
Libretto: Béla Balázs
Director: Csaba Káel

The Miraculous Mandarin
Conductor: Zoltán Kocsis
Featuring: the artists of Ballet Pécs, Hungarian National Philharmonic
Libretto: Menyhért Lengyel
Choreographer: Balázs Vincze