Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) Król Roger Op. 46 (1918-24) - Opera in three acts Libretto: Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz & Karol Szymanowski Roger II, King of Sicily.

Karol Maciej Szymanowski (Polish pronunciation: ; 3 October 1882 – 29 March 1937) was a Polish composer and pianist, the most celebrated Polish composer of the early 20th century. He is considered a member of the late 19th-/early 20th-century modernist movement Young Poland and widely viewed as one of the greatest Polish composers. His stage works include the ballets Harnasie and Mandragora and the operas Hagith and King Roger. He wrote much piano music, including the four Études, Op. 4 (of which No. 3 was once his single most popular piece), many mazurkas and Métopes.

Szymanowski's opera King Roger has never found its way into the standard repertoire, but it remains an intriguing work with many fiercely loyal advocates, and its appeal is immediately obvious in its lush, colorful, and richly imagined music. The opera is hobbled by its dramatic structure and a weak ending, but the opera is a glorious musical ride. The soloists are for the most part very fine. Thomas Hampson is a solid and persuasive King Roger, singing with warmth and urgency. Elzbieta Szmytka's security and fullness in the punishingly high role of Queen Roxana are electrifying

Szymanowski: King Roger (classical music album) - Play streams in full or download MP3 from Classical Archives (classicalarchives. Act I: Entry of the King and Court: Boze, poblogoslaw! (Lord, Be Gracious to Him!) (Chorus, Tenor, Archbishop, Deaconess). 3. Act I: Czys styszal? (What Do You Say?) (Roger, Edirisi, Archbishop, Deaconess, Chorus, Roxana).

Opus/Catalogue NumberOp. I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. 1926/06/29 at the Warsaw Opera, Emil Młynarski, conductor. Although purely instrumental selections and arrangements are permitted for this piece items containing any text by the author(s) listed below cannot be added to the main server until January 1, 2031. Items with text first published before 1924 or otherwise confirmed as public domain in the United States can be uploaded to the USA server only. composer and Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz (1894-1980).

Polish composer Karol Szymanowski began to gather ideas for Król Roger (King Roger), his second and final opera, in 1918. He was in part inspired by Euripides' The Bacchae, in which King Pentheus attempts to suppress the hedonistic worship of Bacchus but ultimately succumbs to his temptation and is destroyed in a bloody frenzy.

Although this work is 100 years old, it was on everyone’s lips again in 2015, when it premiered on one of the most prestigious stages in the world – the Royal Opera House in London. The title role was performed by Mariusz Kwiecień, who will also sing at the Wratislavia Cantans festival

Karol Szymanowski Russie Karol Maciej Szymanowski (Polish pronunciation: ; 3 October 1882 – 29 March 1937) was a Polish composer and pianist, the most celebrated Polish composer of the early 20th century. King Roger, composed between 1918-1924, remains the most popular opera by Szymanowski. His other significant works include opera Hagith, Symphony No. 2, The Love Songs of Hafiz, and Stabat Mater.

Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater. Although Szymanowski is best-known for his orchestral and chamber music, his contribution to vocal music was far from negligible. He wrote collected songs and several stage-works, notably his opera King Roger, while both the Third Symphony and the ballet Harnasie (Mountain Robbers) include a tenor solo and chorus. Towards the end of his life, he composed choral music on sacred topics, the two short cantatas Veni Creator and Litany to the Virgin Mary. Undoubtedly, however, his vocal-instrumental masterpiece is the Stabat Mater