The San Diego Symphony will close its impressive 2025-26 season at Jacobs Music Center on May 22 and 24 with a dynamic pairing of two monumental works: Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra and Béla Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle.
The opening movement of Strauss’ tone poem was made famous in Stanley Kubrick’s film, “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and more recently reprised in “Barbie.” Bluebeard’s Castle, Bartók’s hour-long opera, is a dark and dramatic exploration of an imploding marriage.
Because it includes only two vocalists – and because it relies on conversations, rather than arias – Bluebeard is considered quite a feat for singers.
It has been called a “horror opera” by some, with the title character revealing his terrible secrets one by one to his nervously curious wife.
To add to the challenge, Bluebeard’s will be done in its original Hungarian, one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to learn.
Fortunately, Scottish mezzo soprano Karen Cargill has performed the role of Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle many times over the last 10 years. She checks in with one of her dialect coaches when Bartok’s opera is on her schedule.
“I’ve only done it in Hungarian, and that’s been a deliberate choice, because the piece is so rhythmic in Hungarian,” Cargill said. “There are some interesting sounds in the language that add to the vocal line and to the drama of the piece. It was an intense learn. It’s like Mount Everest – challenging and gratifying.”
Cargill took some time out for a conversation between rehearsals in Toronto, where she is playing Bluebeard’s Judith with the Canadian Opera Company.
“It’s so iconic”
Before Cargill takes the stage here this month at Jacobs Music Center, the orchestra will perform Strauss’ timpani-fueled Also sprach Zarathustra in the first half of the concert. Symphony Artistic and Music Director Rafael Payare will conduct the orchestra in this climactic conclusion to the ambitious 2025-2026 season.
San Diego Symphony Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare will conduct the May 22 and 24 concerts featuring Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra and Bela Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“It’s a big, demanding program,” said Ryan DiLisi, who has been the San Diego Symphony’s principal timpanist since 2010. “Bluebeard’s and Zarathustra are challenging pieces. Rafael has put two major works in both halves of this show. This really stretches the orchestra. We have to keep the level of focus and the level of dedication high throughout.”
Starting the whole evening off is Zarathustra’s thrilling first movement, which Strauss named “Sunrise.” With such an epic beginning, it may be easy to forget Zarathustra is a remarkable work as a whole.
Inspired by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s work of the same name, Strauss set out to “convey in music an idea of the evolution of the human race from its origin.” Zarathustra typically requires an orchestra of 80 to 100 musicians.
Featured among this large orchestra will be timpanist DiLisi and guest organist Weicheng Zhao.
San Diego Symphony principal timpani player Ryan J. DeLisi will perform in the orchestra’s Also sprach Zarathustra and Bluebeard’s Castle concerts May 22 and 24. (Todd Rosenberg)
DiLisi noted that his instrument isn’t that well-known outside of the orchestral world. He often refers to the “2001” film fanfare when people don’t know what timpani are.
“You hear the organ pedal, the bass drum rolling and this rumble of what feels like the dawn of creation with the trumpets rising, and then the timpani come in,” DiLisi said. “It’s so iconic and it’s fun to have the spotlight on you for that moment.”
DiLisi sees a common thread between Also sprach Zarathustra and Bluebeard’s Castle. The first musically displays the dawn of creation, while the second evokes light streaming through the dark castle.
“In both moments, it’s so beautiful,” the timpanist said. “It feels like you’re on your knees with how intense and incredible it is. Those moments alone, for me, feel like: ‘Wow, that’s a great pairing of these visions.’”
Her passion is opera
Mezzo soprano Cargill knows well the darkness that Judith, her character in Bluebeard’s Castle, is trying to dispel.
“I see her as someone who has a positive outlook,” Cargill said. “Whether she believes the (rumors) about Bluebeard or not, she thinks that she can heal him, as we all want to be able to do in relationships. When difficulties arise, we all want to be the person who can make everything okay.
“I don’t like her as a victim. Because if she were a victim, she would stop at the first door. She wants to heal him.”
Cargill, who lives in Glasgow with her Canadian-born husband Nick, and son Adam, travels extensively. Her small wrist tattoo of a triangle helps soothe her when she’s homesick.
Mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill will be a vocal soloist in San Diego Symphony’s concerts May 22 and 24 featuring Richard Strauss’s tone-poem Also sprach Zarathustra and Bela Bartók’s dramatic fantasy Bluebeard’s Castle. (Nadine Boyd)
She also finds solace in some music you won’t hear in opera houses. Cargill has been a fan of Madonna since she was a teenager. Her musical tastes are eclectic, but as a self-described “stage animal,” opera is her passion.
“What drew me to opera is the intimacy of a narrative between us on stage and the audience,” Cargill said. “There’s no better feeling than being up on stage and sharing a story.”
She is especially excited to be returning to San Diego, after her debut appearance here in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 for the orchestra’s season finale last year.
“I absolutely loved everything about it!” Cargill said. “The Jacobs Music Center is gorgeous, and I adore working with Rafael. He’s so talented, insightful and generous-spirited. And I loved being with the orchestra. They are spectacular.”
San Diego Symphony: Also sprach Zarathustra & Bluebeard’s Castle
When: 7:30 p.m. May 22. 2 p.m. May 24
Where: Miller Family Theater, Jacobs Music Center, 750 B. Street, downtown
Tickets: $42-$125
Phone: 619-235-0804
Online: sandiegosymphony.org
An hour before each concert, San Diego Symphony’s Creative Consultant Gerard McBurney will give a half-hour talk about the repertoire.