Regarded by some as his opus magnum, King Roger is one of the most outstanding works by Szymanowski. Written at the time of the composer's immense interest in the Antiquity, the Orient and the culture of the Mediterranean, and inspired by his 1911 journey to Italy, it is regarded as one of the most modern operas of the beginning of the 20th century.
According to musicologist Zofia Helman, King Roger is on the edge of opera and musical drama, not belonging to any pure operatic genre as it also comprises elements of an oratory and an enigmatic medieval performance.
The libretto, written by the famous Polish writer, Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, is dominated by the philosophic and religious idea of kinship of Jesus Christ and Dionisos. It is influenced by Plato's conception of the original androgyny of a human being and the search for harmony and unity.
Paul Daniel, the musical director of the show in Madrid, has called Szymanowski's work 'a fight, a battle, between the old and the new because the story involves a king, begins in the old, he's protecting tradition, and the flavour of the new comes with this (...) shepherd'. The action takes place at the island of Sicily located at the symbolic crossroads of West and East - Asia, Africa and Europe. The opera is composed of three acts - Byzantine, Indian-Arabian Arabian and Antique - which not only creates a feeling of timelessness but directly influences the colouring of the music.
During a service at the Palermo Cathedral, King Roger, his wife Roxanne and advisor Edrisi learn that the Church is threatened by the founder of a new religion, a young and beautiful Shepherd. Summoned to the sanctuary, he is accused of offence to God. Despite the crowd's aggression, the royal couple are impressed by the gentleness and humility of the Shepherd, grant him life and summon him to the court.
The second, 'Oriental' act takes place in the interior courtyard of the royal palace. Waiting for the Shepherd, the King confides in Edrisi his anxiety concerning Roxanne's fascination with the Shepherd. He casts a spell upon her and the courtiers, who join the ecstatic dance of love. The Shepherd, imprisoned by the King manages to free himself and summons him to a journey to the country of eternal freedom. Everyone, including the Queen follow him. Roger and Edrisi are the only ones left at the palace. The King gives up the throne and sets out on a search for Roxanne and the Shepherd.
The third, Hellenic Act: after a long journey the King and Edrisi arrive at the ruins of an antique theatre in Syracuse. The King calls Roxanne. She answers from afar, soon to appear praising the Shepherd. They light a sacrificial a fire together. Soon the Shepherd appears as Dionisos, finally revealing his true form. Roger, enthralled, praises the rising sun.
Krzysztof Warlikowski is one of the most acclaimed directors in Poland. He was born on May 26, 1962 in Szczecin and studied under Krystian Lupa at the State Drama School in Kraków. He works both in Poland and overseas, including France, Germany, Holland and Israel. His works have been shown during the most important world theatre festivals, including Next Wave Festival of New York, Trans Amériques Festival of Montreal and the French Avignon Festival. Warlikowski has staged works by – among others - Shakespeare, Sophocles , Euripides, Kleist, Koltes, Kane as well as the operas of Debussy, Janacek, Wagner, Cherubini, Verdi and Mykietyn. His staging of King Roger is a quite contemporary, intimate take on Szymanowski's myth.
The premiere of King Roger (in Polish, with subtitles) takes place on April 25, 2011 at the Teatro Real of Madrid. Repeat performances through May 14, 2011.
The show is accompanied by the exhibition of photographs Beautiful Like Me, put together by Boris Kudlička. The installation offers a simple yet very elegant form of visual message, using advanced electronics to present photographs and archival materials in the form of digitised slides or brief film sequences. It also presents basic biographical data about the authors, information and photos from selected productions.
Performers: Mariusz Kwiecień (King Roger), Olga Pasiecznik (Roxanne) i Jadwiga Rappé (Deacon), a także Stefan Margita (Edrisi), Will Hartmann (Pastor) and Wojtek Śmiłek (Archiereios). The Polish cast is accompanied by the Teatro Real choir and orchestra, directed by Paul Daniel. Set design by: Małgorzata Szczęśniak, lighting: Felice Ross.
Source: Culture.pl, Teatro Real