Krol Roger (King Roger), Op. 46

Composer: Szymanowski, Karol

Librettist/Text Author: Iwaszkiewicz, Jaroslav

Conductor: Elder, Mark

Orchestra: Vienna Symphony Orchestra

Chorus: Camerata Silesia

Chorus Master: Szostak, Anna

Chorus: Polish Radio Chorus, Krakow

Chorus Master: Szostak, Anna

Chorus: Bregenz Musikhauptschule Children's Chorus

Chorus Master: Szostak, Anna

Edrisi: Graham Hall, John

King Roger: Hendricks, Scott

Roxana: Pasichnyk, Olga

The Archbishop: Coliban, Sorin

The Deaconess: Sokolova, Lyubov

The Shepherd: Hartmann, Will

Set Designer: Bauer, Raimund

Costume Designer: Lecca, Marie-Jeanne

Lighting Designer: Kebour, Fabrice

Choreographer: Vollack, Beate

Stage Director: Pountney, David

Television Director: Breisach, Felix

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Date of Production: 2009

Festival: Bregenz Festival

Playing Time: 01:28:34

Catalogue Number: A04001519

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"It's hard to believe that this Krol Roger had been neglected for so long!" The prestigious Opernwelt was not alone in welcoming the belated rediscovery of Polish composer Karol Szymanowski's (1882-1937) masterpiece of 1926, which resonates with echoes of Late-Romanticism and Expressionism, Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner. Presented at the Festival Hall of the Bregenz Festival in a production by festival director David Pountney, the musical rarity, a combination of opera, oratorio and mystery play, tells the story of 12th-century Sicilian King Roger, who is led astray by a mysterious shepherd who preaches a life of unrestrained hedonism.

Director David Pountney delivers an uncommonly riveting production by staging the clash of virtue and immorality in a simple, archaic, yet wondrously luminous set reminiscent of an ancient Greek theater. The coproduction with the Gran Teatre del Liceu of Barcelona is given musical shape by the Wiener Symphoniker, who "rise above themselves" (Opernwelt) under Sir Mark Elder. Scott Hendricks gives a powerful rendition of the title hero. Will Hartmann and Olga Pasichnyk shine as the shepherd and the king's wife.