麻豆社

Iolanta

Iolanta is blind. She lives a secluded life and is treated like a doll. A long time ago her father, King Rene虂, hid her from the world and placed her in the care of simple people, Martha and Bertrand. His greatest concern is for his daughter never to find out she is blind. He also doesn鈥檛 want the news of Iolanta鈥檚 blindness to reach Robert, her future husband. Iolanta is convinced that eyes are only for crying. But she is becoming anxious and has some vague presentiments.

Alme虂ric arrives at Iolanta鈥檚 dwelling, announcing a visit from the King and a famous Moorish physician. The doctor鈥檚 diagnosis is clear: Iolanta must be told of her disability before treatment can begin. Rene虂 says no.

Robert and Vaud茅mont appear at Iolanta鈥檚 house. They are overawed鈥攖he place seems to hide a secret, danger, they feel threatened. They meet Iolanta, not knowing who she is. Robert doesn鈥檛 realize she is his betrothed, whom he doesn鈥檛 want to marry because he loves someone else. Vaud茅mont is enchanted with the girl while Robert is worried by this mysterious place. Enthralled with Iolanta鈥檚 beauty, Vaud茅mont asks her to give him a red rose as a keepsake. Iolanta hands him a white one, twice. Vaud茅mont realizes that she can鈥檛 see. Iolanta has no idea what it means to see, she isn鈥檛 aware what she is missing. King Rene虂 catches Vaud茅mont talking to Iolanta and is furious with him for revealing the secret to her. With no will of her own, Iolanta doesn鈥檛 even know whether she wants to be able to see鈥攕he will do anything her father tells her. This only confirms the doctor鈥檚 words that without an inner desire, no change is possible. To awaken her desire to regain her sight, the King threatens that if the treatment fails Vaud茅mont will be killed. Iolanta is healed and her father consents to her marriage to Vaud茅mont. But regaining her sight doesn鈥檛 bring Iolanta the expected deliverance. Blinded by the world, she can鈥檛 believe that the people she loves look the way they do. Her love for Vaud茅mont and the wedding ceremony subdue her fears.

Bluebeard鈥檚 Castle

Judith has come to live with Bluebeard, having left her family home and her peaceful, ordered existence. Bluebeard鈥檚 secret mesmerizes her鈥攕he knows the terrifying rumors, she fears she may be on a road of no return, yet she decides to enter his home. The door closes. Judith confesses her love for Bluebeard, believing that it will change him and light up his gloomy home. She repeats her profession of love like a mantra as she demands that the doors to seven rooms be opened. The first one is a torture chamber, the second an armory. These rooms fill her with terror. The next doors conceal a treasury and a garden. Then Bluebeard shows his empire to Judith. She sees blood everywhere: on jewels, weapons, flowers. She doesn鈥檛 want to defer to Bluebeard who says, 鈥淟ove me鈥� and 鈥淎sk no questions.鈥� Judith responds that she loves him and wants him to open up to her, reveal his inner self, uncover his fears. She demands that all the doors be opened. The sixth door, which conceals a sea of tears, is where Judith reaches the limit of knowledge. That leaves the seventh door. Behind it is a space beyond life, on the border of life and death. There are concealed Bluebeard鈥檚 previous wives. Passing through the seventh door, Judith joins them. She is made a part of Bluebeard鈥檚 space forever. The circle of her journey closes.