14.03.2026

Florian Boesch as Duke Bluebeard in Bartók’s 'Bluebeard’s Castle' in Florence

Following his acclaimed role debut in the summer of 2025 at the Tyrolean Festival Erl, Florian Boesch returns as Duke Bluebeard in Béla Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle – this time on the stage of the Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, where the premiere will take place on 14 March 2026. Conducted by Martin Rajna and directed by Claus Guth, he will once again be joined by Christel Loetzsch as Judith. The programme will be complemented by Anna Caterina Antonacci in Poulenc's La voix humaine.

Duke Bluebeard's Castle refers to the psychologically dense story of Bluebeard and Judith: the young woman follows the duke to his mysterious castle, determined to uncover his secrets. Step by step, she opens the seven hidden doors of the castle, discovering torture chambers, armouries, treasure chambers and bloody gardens, before finally encountering Bluebeard's three former wives and becoming the 'midnight wife’ herself. Judith and Bluebeard are engaged in an intense, equal relationship and power struggle that makes the psychological depths of both characters palpable.

Florian Boesch 'impressed in the role of Duke Bluebeard with his strong, authentic stage presence, as well as his confident vocal intelligence and presence' (Online Merker). In his interpretation, Bluebeard is 'no dictator. Although Boesch has impressive vocal authority with his room-filling bass-baritone, he attaches great importance to differentiated phrasing and vocal lines of sometimes touching tenderness"'(Süddeutsche Zeitung), according to reviews of his role debut in the summer of 2026.

Cast:
Florian Boesch, Duke Bluebeard
Christel Loetzsch, Judith
Anna Caterina Antonacci, La Femme

Orchestra of the Tyrolean Festival Erl
Martin Rajna, conductor
Claus Guth, director
Monika Pormale, set Design
Anna Sofie Tuma, costumes
Michael Bauer, lighting
Yvonne Gebauer, dramaturgy