Neglected masterpieces
Other rarely-performed operas that deserve to be re-evaluated.
Cyrano de Bergerac - Franco Alfano
L'amore dei tre re (The Love of Three Kings) - Italo Montemezzi
Oedipe (Oedipus) - George Enescu
Genoveva (Genevieve) - Robert Schumann
Król Roger (King Roger) - Karol Szymanowski
Information about the opera Król Roger by Karol Szymanowski, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Scored with luscious music, the opera is loosely based on the Bacchae by Euripedes.
Recommended recordings on CD
Kaspszyk/Drabowicz/Pasichnyk (CD Accord ACD131-2)
An excellent atmospheric performance, with an all-Polish cast, now making this the recommended version.
Polish National Opera Chorus, Polish National Opera Orchestra, conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk.
Cast: Wojtek Drabowicz (Roger II), Olga Pasichnyk (Roxana), Piotr Beczala (Shepherd), Romuald Tesarowicz (Archbishop), Stefania Toczyska (Deaconess), Krzysztof Szmyt (Edrisi).
CD Accord ACD131-2
Rattle/Hampson/Szmytka (EMI Classics 7243 CDS 556823-2)
The finest recording of King Roger, and winner of a Gramophone award in 2000.
City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, 7/1998.
Cast: Thomas Hampson (Roger II), Elzbieta Szmytka (Roxana), Ryszard Minkiewicz (Shepherd), Robert Gierlach (Archbishop), Jadwiga Rappé (Deaconess), Philip Langridge (Edrisi).
EMI Classics 7243 CDS 556823-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Elder/Hendricks/Pasichnyk (C Major 702 808)
The first time this opera has been available on DVD, this is a traditional production recorded live at the Bregenz Festival with excellent performances.
Children's Chorus of Musikhauptschule Bregenz, Camerata Silesia, Polish Radio Choir Kraków, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mark Elder, 2009.
Cast: Scott Hendricks (Roger II), Olga Pasichnyk (Roxana), Will Hartmann (Shepherd), Sorin Coliban (Archbishop), Luibov Sokolova (Deaconess), John Graham-Hall (Edrisi).
C Major 702 808