RECORDING OF THE MONTH RECORDING OF THE MONTH BARGAIN OF THE MONTH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony Oboe Concerto £11 post free World-wide RACHMANINOV Elegy, Preludes, Piano concerto 3 £12 post free World-wide CHAUSSON, DEBUSSY RACHMANINOV TRios 2CDs £16 post free World-wide

SPECIAL EDITION £21 from MusicWeb Discs may be purchased through MusicWeb using PayPal. If you do not have a PayPal account you may Sign up Here! (Note: The PayPal links may not work for you if you use a pop-up suppressor which you may need to switch off) If you prefer to use CCNow to purchase click here Buy through MusicWeb for £21 postage paid World-wide

Karol SZYMANOWSKI (1882-1937) King Roger - opera in three acts Op. 46 (1918-24) Libretto: Jaroslaw Iwaskiewicz, composer Roger II, King of Sicily - Wojtek Drabowicz (bar) Roxana - Olga Pasiecznik (sop) Edrisi, Arab Sage - Krzystof Szmyt (ten) Shepherd - Piotr Beczala (ten) Archbishop - Romuald Tesarowicz (bass) Deaconess - Stefania Toczyska (mezzo) All Polacca Youth Choir/Sabina Wlodarska Chorus and Orchestra of Polish National Opera/Jacek Kaspszyk rec. Teatr Wielki - Opera Narodowa, Warszawa, 27-29 Jan 2003. DDD CD ACCORD ACD 131-2 [79.11]

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   Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Return to Index

Reviews from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.