Karol Szymanowski was
one of the outstanding composers of
the 20th century. As early
as 1912 he wrote: ‘The thought of composing
an opera fills my mind with great intensity.’
In the years after the First World War
he fulfilled his destiny with the composition
of his masterpiece, King Roger (Warsaw,
1926). This is a rich and evocative
score, which transfers atmospherically
to the stage. The story is borrowed
from ‘The Bacchae of Euripides’, and
tells of a handsome, mysterious shepherd
who is also a mystical prophet. In fact
he is disguised, being the god Dionysus,
who comes from India to a Sicilian court
during the 12th century.
At first the Christian
King Roger resists his message, but
the queen and the people are captivated
by the stranger, who leads them away.
Whereas in the Euripides original the
King is destroyed, in Szymanowski’s
opera he becomes converted and yields
to the pagan beliefs. For this sensual
approach is fundamental to both the
drama and the music, with vocal and
orchestral writing that can be described
as both opulent and colourful. This
is Poland’s finest opera, a metaphysical
work in the manner of Parsifal,
with a richly chromatic musical style
that owes a good deal to Richard Strauss.
All these abundant
strengths can be experienced in this
new recording from Warsaw, which is
expertly conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk.
The pacing and balancing of the music
never fails to beguile the ear, and
the recorded sound from the very beginning
has precisely the depth and richness
that Szymanowski demands.
The cast is idiomatically
chosen, with a native command of Polish
that brings a confident delivery of
the often ecstatic vocal lines. All
the singers sound well in their roles,
and if there is a criticism it is that
some of the ensemble scenes might convey
rather more intensity.
The baritone Wojtek
Drabowicz is when necessary a commanding
figure, though the role requires more
than that dimension, of course. Olga
Pasiecznik is a sensitive Roxana, both
ardent and vulnerable, while the mysterious
shepherd Pastyerz is also well sung
by Piotr Beczala. It is unlikely that
international superstars will take up
this opera, particularly if it is to
be sung in Polish, so this new recording
is an important document and sets a
benchmark standard.
There is a well produced
booklet containing full texts and multi-lingual
translations, plus a useful synopsis
and introductory essay.
Terry Barfoot
see also review
by Rob Barnett
All Polacca Youth Choir/Sabina Wlodarska 
Discs may be purchased through MusicWeb
using PayPal.