Ariane et Barbe-bleue (French pronunciation: [aʁjan e baʁb blø], Ariadne and Bluebeard) is an opera in three acts by Paul Dukas.

Ariane et Barbe-bleue was premiered at the Salle Favart in Paris by the Opéra Comique on 10 May 1907 with Maeterlinck's partner, Georgette Leblanc, in the title role.

Arnold Schoenberg and his pupils Alban Berg and Anton Webern were in the audience and expressed their admiration for the music.

The British premiere did not take place until 20 April 1937 (at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London).

[2] Oper Frankfurt gave a new production in its 2007–2008 season and Opéra National de Paris took the work to Japan in July 2008, together with only one other full-length opera, on the company's first tour of that country; Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona) gave a new production in June 2011, its premiere at the theatre.

In July 2022, West Edge Opera premiered a new production directed by Alison Pogorelc, which music critic Joshua Kosman wrote, "made the best imaginable case for the work.

D'abord il faut désobéir: c'est le premier devoir quand l'ordre est menaçant et ne s'explique pas.

The second door reveals a "shower of sapphires"; the third, a "deluge of pearls"; the fourth, a "waterfall of emeralds"; the fifth, "a tragic torrent of rubies".

Ariane is unimpressed by the gems, although the contents of the sixth, "avalanches of gigantic diamonds", elicit a cry of wonder from her ("O mes clairs diamants!").

It is the voices of Barbe-bleue's other wives singing a folk song "Les cinq filles d'Orlamonde" ("The five maids of Orlamonde").

As he does so, the furious peasants smash the windows and break into the hall to confront Barbe-bleue, who draws his sword in defence.

Scene: A vast, underground hall, at first shrouded in almost complete darkness The seventh door has shut behind Ariane and the nurse.

One wife (Sélysette) replies: On ne pourrait pas fuir; car tout est bien fermé; et puis c'est défendu ("We couldn't; everything is barred and bolted; besides, it is forbidden.")

Scene: The same as Act 1 The castle's magic defences have prevented the wives from escaping and they find themselves in the hall, but they are happy as long as they are with Ariane.

They fall silent at the sight of his wives and willingly turn over their captive to Ariane so she can take "vengeance".

Ariane asks the other wives if they are going to follow her: La forêt et la mer nous appellent de loin et l'aurore se penche aux voûtes de l'azur, pour nous montrer un monde inondé d'espérance... ("The forest and the sea are beckoning from afar and dawn is spreading over the azure heavens and will reveal a world filled with hope...").