Other 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.
A very beautiful opera.
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 5 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 5 CDS 556823-2