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Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Der Ring des Polykrates in Los Angeles

Dec. 01, 2019

Erich Wolfgang Korngold's <em>Der Ring des Polykrates</em> in Los Angeles

Numi Opera presents Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Der Ring des Polykrates at Zipper Hall at the Colburn School in Los Angeles on December 19 and 22. Francesco Milioto conducts and Gail Gordon directs this production. After the premiere of his 1910 ballet Der Schneemann at the Vienna State Opera House the thirteen-year-old Erich Wolfgang Korngold was considered a child prodigy. He subsequently wished to compose and orchestrate his first opera and hit on Heinrich Tewele’s comedy Der Ring des Polykrates from which Leo Feld compiled a libretto. Korngold’s father Julius was also involved in the preparation of the text.

The one-act opera could almost have provided inspiration for Giacomo Puccini’s comic opera Gianni Schicchi, despite the fact that the musical language clearly belongs to Vienna at the turn of the 20th century. Korngold’s harmonies are complex and his use of rhythm sophisticated; his protagonists are characterised by the typical Viennese snide humour of provincial theatres. Although the fortunate Wilhelm is good-natured, he is at the same time vain and gloats comprehensively about his success. His devoted wife Laura not only possesses a dark secret, she can also transform herself into a fury. With its effective orchestration and precision in the development of the plot, Der Ring des Polykrates is anything but a mere finger exercise, already clearly a small masterpiece in itself. The premiere of the opera took place in the Munich Court Theatre on March 28, 1916 alongside Korngold’s second one-act opera Violanta and was a resounding success. The Viennese premiere was followed by productions performed across Europe. During the past few years, this charming one-act piece has been performed with increasing frequency; recent productions have taken place on opera stages in Martina Franca (Italy), Lübeck, Augsburg, Heidelberg and Dallas.


(Der Ring des Polykrates/Erich Wolfgang Korngold/Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/
Klauspeter Seibrl, conductor)

Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Der Ring des Polykrates (1913-1914)
Opera in one act
libretto by Leo Feld and Julius Korngold 
after the play by Heinrich Teweles
3(3.pic).2(2.eh).2.2.cbn-3.2.1.0-timp-4perc-hp-cel-str
60' 

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