PORTLAND — The Portland Symphony Orchestra will perform Béla Bartók’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” and J.S. Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Merrill Auditorium.

Music Director Robert Moody conducts; guest soloists Alan Held and Michelle DeYoung will perform “Bluebeard’s Castle.”

The concert will open with “Concerto for Two Violins.” Widely considered to be Bach’s most popular work, the concerto is known for the relationship that builds between the two violins. Amy Sims, assistant concertmaster for the symphony, and Sasha Callahan, assistant principal second violin, will be featured in the concerto.

“Bluebird’s Castle,” a one-act opera based on a French tale with the same name, will follow. Bass-baritone Alan Held will sing the male lead, Bluebeard, who in this tale has just returned to the castle with his wife, Judith. The opera follows Judith and Bluebeard as Judith explores the castle, opening door after door despite her husband’s pleas to stop.

Recognized internationally as one of the leading singing actors today, Held has appeared in major roles at The Metropolitan Opera, The Vienna State Opera, The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, The Paris Opera and more. His many roles include Wotan in Wagner’s “Der Ring Des Nibelungen,” Amfortas in “Parsifal,” Scarpia in “Tosca,” and the title roles in “Gianni Schicchi,” “Der Fliegende Holländer,” “Wozzeck” and “Cardillac.” Held has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and more.

Mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung sings the role of Judith. DeYoung has established herself as one of the most exciting artists of her generation and appears frequently with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and more. She has also appeared with many of the finest opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Glimmerglass Opera and La Scala.

Attendees are invited to join the artists for a concert conversation one hour and 15 minutes prior to the concert and to stay for a post-concert question and answer with the artists.

Tickets are $25 to $75 and are available by calling 207-842-0800 or by visiting www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Merrill Auditorium box office at 20 Myrtle St. from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Special pricing for students, seniors and groups may be available.