Picking up on David L.'s review (with which I wholeheartedly agree), he comments on Robert Eddison's [not 'Edison'] introduction appearing to be cut off. Not so. What actually seems to have happened is that the actor comes in a mite too early with the phrase 'Music sounds' (end of track 2), quickly corrects himself [we hear 'Mu...'] and then comes in correctly just after the orchestra steals in (start of track 3). A tiny slip and not problematic, especially from such a great actor whom I saw several times in plays; always charismatic...and he was also (of course) the Grail Knight in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, quite stealing the film in the last scenes! I saw David Ward many times at both the Royal Opera and English National Opera, including as Bluebeard at the Coliseum with Ava June - around the same time as this Festival Hall concert, I think. He was magnificently enigmatic in his characterisation, whilst the familiar sonority of his beautiful basso cantante just rolled on and on!What a pleasure to hear this performance!

AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Outstanding performance by both principals, the orchestra and conductor in wonderful sound.

Just some facts about this lovely performance: the date given is wrong. This performance took place on 21 October 1970 at the Royal Festival Hall, London. (I was there). I quote the programme 'The English translation of the libretto is a conflation of the versions by Chester Kallman and Christopher Hassall. The Bard's prologue has been newly translated by Brian Trowell'.

Boulez seemed to have made specialty of this haunting opera. He released two commercial recordings of it, both of which are exceptionally good. This live performance is just as mesmerizing. Both Ward and Lear are in excellent shape vocally and their diction is beautiful. Another commenter here insists Lear screams the big high C - well, if it doesn't match the glorious C that Troyanos produces for Boulez, it's there and because this is live we know Lear didn't cheat.Robert Edison as the narrator is also wonderfully atmospheric though the tail end of his opening speech gets cut off (I think.) The sound is great too! How many times can one say that about a live recording?Highly recommended!

A treat to hear an English performance of Bluebeard, especially with such good sound quality

Although Pierre Boulez doesn't fully unleash some of the beauties of Bartok's score as others have, this performance is a winner. The Fifth Door, to put it mildly, kicks ass, backed up by a powerful pipe organ. The conducting is -- there and always -- atmospheric, the orchestral playing superb and the singers are a memorable pair. David Ward bears Bluebeard's sufferings with admirable stoicism and Evelyn Lear is a quicksilver Judith, as tender, wheedling or desperate as the text demands. The prologue for narrator is included.

Adore this.

This is the recording I come back too more than any other. Ward was always wonderful as Bluebeard, he sang it at the Met with Verrett(it was broadcast) and also with Ava June at the ENO. Lear is just a little over the hill for this , the C is a scream but she knows how to put Judith across.

This is indeed a tremendous performance and in excellent sound as described.Does anyone remember the venue. I think that it must be a concert performance.probably the BBC Symphony Orchestra.