It is hard to believe that for decades Karol Szymanowski's masterpiece, his magnificent opera King Roger of 1926, led such a shadowy existence until it was revealed for what it is by such powerful champions as Simon Rattle: one of the 20th century's finest operas. The visually strong production by David Pountney provided the Bregenz Festival with one of its most abiding successes in recent years. Scott Hendricks in the baritone title role and Olga Pasichnyk as his queen, Roxana, were both rapturously applauded. 'What grandiose music!' (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
See our full collection of opera Blu-rays and DVDs
Composer: Karol Szymanowski
King Roger: Scott Hendricks
Roxana: Olga Pasichnyk
Edrisi: John Graham-Hall
Shepard: Will Hartmann
Archbishop: Sorin Coliban
Deaconess: Liubov Sokolova
Children's Chorus of Musikhauptschule Bregenz
Camerata Silesia
Polish Radio Choir Kraków
Wiener Symphoniker
Conductor: Sir Mark Elder
Staged by: David Pountney
Set Design: Raimund Bauer
Costume Design: Marie-Jeanne Lecca
Lighting: Fabrice Kebour
Choreography: Beate Vollack
Picture: 16:9 HD
Sound: 2.0 PCM / DTS-HD MA 5.1
Region code: 0 (Worldwide)
Running time: 89 mins
Year: 2009
Subtitles: PO/EN/FR/DE/ES/CAT