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Karol Szymanowski's King Roger in Santa Fe Opera
2012-07-11
July 21, 2012 Santa Fe Opera will premiere King Roger by Karol Szymanowski, directed by Stephen Wadsworth, one of the most acclaimed contemporary opera directors. The title role will be performed by the prominent Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecień - this will be his first appearance in the role in the United States. The famous singer has already appeared in the role of Roger in the opera houses in Paris and Madrid. “In my opinion KING ROGER is the best Polish opera ever written,” said Mariusz Kwiecień. “So I am all the more curious as to what our wonderful director, Stephen Wadsworth will do with the opera.” In the Polish singer’s opinion, the controversial subject matter of Szymanowski's work creates a pretext to present romantic and political conflict, as well as religious and philosophical challenges. “This is what gives this opera such depth and it can be presented in many different ways.”The Santa Fe Opera is one of the best known summer opera festivals in the USA. Its imposing building overlooks a vast mesa between the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains on either side and from which opera goers can be enchanted by summer sunsets before and after the performance.
This production of KING ROGER is made possible with support from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in Warsaw and the Polish Cultural Institute New York.
Karol Szymanowski - Król Roger
Opera in three acts
Libretto: Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz and Karol Szymanowski
Duration: 1 hour 30 min. (without intermissions)
Conductor: Evan Rogister
Director: Stephen Wadsworth
Scenic Designer: Thomas Lynch
Choreography: Peggy Hickey
Costume Designer: Ann Hould-Ward
Lighting Designer: Duane Schuler
Cast:
King Roger - Mariusz Kwiecień
Roxana: Erin Morley
Edrisi: Dennis Petersen
Shepherd: William Burden
Archbishop: Raymond Aceto
Dates of performances:
Saturday 21 July (time: 20:30)
Wednesday 25 July (time: 20:30)
Friday 3 August (time: 20:00)
Thursday 9 August (time: 20:00)
Tuesday 14 August (time: 20:00)
More information from the website of the Polish Cultural Institute in New York: http://www.polishculture-nyc.org/?eventId=1972
Photo from the website www.santafeopera.org
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