King Roger at the ROH and on R3

[Belgrove]

The only work to have tempted me to the ROH this season is their first ever production of Szymanowski's King Roger, which I note is being filmed and will be broadcast on R3 on 16th May. Looks like there are plenty of tickets still available. Anyone going?

[Conchis]

I was moderately excited about this until I saw who was directing.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I was moderately excited about this until I saw who was directing.

Well, don't keep it a secret!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Oh, very well then.

http://www.polishculture.org.uk/theatre/news/article/king-roger-at-the-royal-opera-house-2577.html

[french frank]

For interest, the programme note from when it was last broadcast on Radio 3 (Mariinsky production):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dnz9t

[Stanley Stewart]

I'm confident that a few forumites may share my affectionate memories of the ENO production of King Roger in March 1976. The cast included Geoffrey Chard (King Roger), Felicity Lott (Roxana), Gregory Dempsey (The Shepherd), John Tomlinson (Archbishop of Palermo) and Shelagh Squires (The Abbess).
Conductor Charles Mackerras, Producer, Anthony Besch, Designer, John Stoddart and Choreographer, Sally Gilpin.

I've just been looking at the attractive programme with informative notes on the opera by Andrew Porter; Sicily Under King Roger, John Julius Norwich; and, particularly, a contribution by Andrzej Panufnik on his meeting with Karol Szymanowski shortly before he died when AP was still a student at the Warsaw Conservatoire. The opera was also the basis of a learning curve for me in the symphonic work and string quartets of the composer which fostered an understanding of a life tormented by inner unrest and conflict. I'm eager to hear the R3 broadcast.

[bluestateprommer]

I was moderately excited about this until I saw who was directing.

Even if the director's name doesn't entice you, go see this production live anyway. The full 3-D feel of the sound will be infinitely better in the house than on radio. Besides, chances to see Król Roger live are extremely rare. I wouldn't throw this opportunity away, if it were me.

[Conchis]

Even if the director's name doesn't entice you, go see this production live anyway. The full 3-D feel of the sound will be infinitely better in the house than on radio. Besides, chances to see Król Roger live are extremely rare. I wouldn't throw this opportunity away, if it were me.

I probably will go to see it but, since he arrived at Covent Garden, people have found very little good to say about Kasper Holten's work. His Onegin was particularly dire.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I probably will go to see it but, since he arrived at Covent Garden, people have found very little good to say about Kasper Holten's work. His Onegin was particularly dire.

' Heavens! Was that one of his?

[Conchis]

' Heavens! Was that one of his?

Yes, the Tchaikovsky opera, not the ballet.

[Don Basilio]

We've got tickets, so I've been trying to get to know it from the Hampson CDs.

Lush, pretentious, over-blown.

That was only the stage directions. This is one work, where the stage directions (ludicrously over elaborate) should not be followed in detail. Indeed are impossible to follow in detail.

The plot is, er, interesting.

Married man unsettled by male underwear model.

I don't have a natural sympathy with late Romantic music, which is why I'm trying to get to know it in advance.

PS. The Eugene Onegin was silly but not half as silly as Idomeneo.

[makropulos]

I'm confident that a few forumites may share my affectionate memories of the ENO production of King Roger in March 1976. The cast included Geoffrey Chard (King Roger), Felicity Lott (Roxana), Gregory Dempsey (The Shepherd), John Tomlinson (Archbishop of Palermo) and Shelagh Squires (The Abbess).
Conductor Charles Mackerras, Producer, Anthony Besch, Designer, John Stoddart and Choreographer, Sally Gilpin.

I've just been looking at the attractive programme with informative notes on the opera by Andrew Porter; Sicily Under King Roger, John Julius Norwich; and, particularly, a contribution by Andrzej Panufnik on his meeting with Karol Szymanowski shortly before he died when AP was still a student at the Warsaw Conservatoire. The opera was also the basis of a learning curve for me in the symphonic work and string quartets of the composer which fostered an understanding of a life tormented by inner unrest and conflict. I'm eager to hear the R3 broadcast.

Yes, very affectionate memories - it was a beautiful production and sounded marvellous. I think it opened at Sadler's Wells the year before, then transferred to the Coli (a "New Opera Company" production), but I remember the cast you saw, with CM conducting, at the Coli. It's a nostalgic business recalling this - I was a student at the time and it was one of the operas that most excited me as an undergraduate along with lots of Janacek and Britten.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Oh, very well then.

http://www.polishculture.org.uk/thea...ouse-2577.html

From EA's link: "Conducted by Antonio Papppano and featuring Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecień, ROH's new prodcution promises to bring new light on Szymanowski's masterpiece for the British audiences."

Better turn your hearing aids up, guys Not sure what prodcution is either, but looks like it might require protective clothing (stab vests?).

[David-G]

I probably will go to see it but, since he arrived at Covent Garden, people have found very little good to say about Kasper Holten's work. His Onegin was particularly dire.

His Onegin was dire, and his Don Giovanni was dire. In fairness, his L'Ormindo at the Sam Wanamaker was a complete delight. Perhaps Holten should specialise in Baroque opera! I shall be going to Krol Roger on May 19th. It is completely unknown territory for me. I shall go with keen anticipation, but also some foreboding.

[Simon Biazeck]

His Onegin was dire, and his Don Giovanni was dire. In fairness, his L'Ormindo at the Sam Wanamaker was a complete delight. Perhaps Holten should specialise in Baroque opera! I shall be going to Krol Roger on May 19th. It is completely unknown territory for me. I shall go with keen anticipation, but also some foreboding.

Król Roger is looking and sounding great, even from my recessed position in the extra chorus!