Bluebeard’s Castle is a gothic opera composed by Béla Bartók with a libretto written by Béla Balás. In 2026 NZ Opera and the Auckland Philharmonia bring a modern retelling of the opera to New Zealand.
Discarding horror in favour of empathy, the opera explores ageing, memory, and the quiet devastation of watching someone you love change. A suburban home replaces the castle; a battered suitcase replaces the locked doors, each object holding a fading fragment of a shared life.
In this interview with Andrew Whiteside, director Daisy Evans discusses the why this opera appealed to her and fires back at Timothée Chalamet’s comments about opera and ballet.
Press play to watch the interview:
BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE
13 & 14 March 2026 – Auckland Town Hall
