Sight But No Vision: 'Iolanta' and 'Bluebeard's Castle' at the Met

Double bills are a common phenomenon in the opera world. The most famous two are the pairing of Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci and the best pairings of operas offer either a stark contrast between the pieces -- highlighting what makes each piece different and worthy of viewing in a new light -- or complement each other, showing that two works by different composers have similarities through themes or musical styles. The Met's new production of Tchaikovsky's Iolanta paired with Bartok's Bluebeard...