Chicago Opera Theater music director Lidiya Yankovskaya joins Oliver to preview the Chicago premiere of Karol Szymanowski’s benchmark opera. The production, opening November 18, will feature a chorus of over 100 singers including the Apollo Chorus of Chicago and singers from Chicago’s leading Polish classical music ensemble, the Lira Ensemble; with one of the largest opera orchestra’s ever assembled by COT, and two principal singers who are leading interpreters of Polish opera. Learn more HERE.
A Preview of Chicago Opera Theater’s King Roger
Playlist
Selections from Karol Szymanowski’s King Roger
Act I: Entry of the King and Court
Leonard Andrzej Mróz, bass
Anna Malewicz-Madey, contralto
Andrzej Hiolski, baritone
Boys’ Chorus of the Cracow Philharmonic
Polish State Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra
Karol Stryja, conductor
Naxos 8.660062-63
Act I: Shepherd’s Song (“Mój Bóg jest piekny”)
Ryszard Minkiewicz, tenor
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
Simon Rattle, conductor
EMI CDCB 7243 5 56823 2
Act II: Roxana’s Song (“A…! Roksana! Jej śpiew!”)
Olga Pasiecznik, soprano
Krzysztof Szmyt, tenor
Wojtek Drabowicz, baritone
Polish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Jacek Kaspszyk, conductor
Accord ACD 131-2
Act II: “Tajemnych głębin życia żar wszechmocną” (Shepherd)
Piotr Beczała, tenor
Polish National Opera Orchestra
Jacek Kaspszyk, conductor
Accord ACD 131-2
Act III: The Ruins of a Greek Theatre
Andrzej Hiolski, baritone
Henryk Grychnik, tenor
Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra
Karol Stryja, conductor
Naxos 8.660062-63
Selections featuring Iwona Sobotka and Mariusz Godlewski
Frédéric Chopin: Wiosna, Op. 74, No. 2
Iwona Sobotka, soprano
Ángel Cabrera, piano
Chopin: Polish Songs
Play Classics PC13003
Dariusz Przybylski: Six Songs to Words by Halina Poświatowska, Op. 14
IV. Zgarnij mnie oczyma
Iwona Sobotka, soprano
Daniel Brylewski, piano
Dariusz Przybylski: Songs & Piano Works
DUX-1167
Stanisław Moniuszko: The Haunted Manor
Act I, Scene 2: “Więc gdy się rozstaniem, przed słońca świtaniem”
Mariusz Godlewski, baritone
Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic Choir
Orchestra of the 18th Century
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Moniuszko: Straszny dwór
Frederick Chopin Institute NIFCCD-084
Preview of Albert Herring
Benjamin Britten: Albert Herring
Act III: Threnody, “In the midst of life is death”
Josephine Barstow, Felicity Palmer, Robert Lloyd, Peter Savidge, Gerald Finley, Ann Taylor, Della Jones, Susan Gritton, Stuart Kale
Northern Sinfonia
Stuart Bedford, conductor
Britten: Albert Herring
Naxos 8.660107-08