Bartók's fascinating piece seems to defeat most directors, and many of the most memorable performances in Scotland have been in concert form. This line-up speaks for itself. Brian McMaster had managed to lure Boulez to Wales for a staged production of Pelléas, but this was his only operatic venture in Scotland. The wonderful Hungarian bass, with a warm, velvety voice, made the Duke a more sympathetic, indeed tragic, figure than usual. He had visited Edinburgh with the Hungarian company at the start of his career, some thirty years before, singing a very short role.
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