Ariane et Barbe-bleue

About

Ariane et Barbe-bleue (translated into English as Ariadne and Bluebeard) is a French opera composed by Paul Dukas with a libretto adapted from the symbolist play of the same name by Maurice Maeterlinck. Though rarely performed today, Ariane et Barbe-bleue is widely considered to be one of Dukas' finest works. The opera details the story of Ariane who is destined to become the sixth wife of Barbe-bleue (Bluebeard), but soon realizes, through a meeting with his previous wives, that doing so might not be in her best interests. Much of the opera is influenced by Pelleas et Melisande, an opera by the composer's close friend, Claude Debussy, which also is based upon a play by Maurice Maeterlinck. Dukas pays homage to Debussy's work, albeit briefly, by borrowing the musical theme used to represent Mélisande in Debussy's opera to represent her appearance in as one of Barbe-bleue's former wives.