Król Roger (King Roger)

About

 The opera, King Roger, is the supreme work of Karol Szymanowski, whose creation was finished between 1918–1924. The libretto was written by the composer in collaboration with his distant cousin Jaroslaw Iwaskiewicz, who later became a well-known Polish writer. After several visits to Italy and Sicily, Szymanowski was fascinated by their culture and history, as well as the unknown worlds that opened up to him in Mediterranean surroundings. The Bacchae by Euripides, Plato's Phaedrus and Symposium, as well as the works of Friedrich Nietzsche also became King Roger´s spiritual inspiration.

The opera offers the story of the ruler Roger as a representative of a social system, a world of rationality, discipline and faith, disrupted by a mysterious Shepherd. With the arrival of a modern prophet, who preaches hedonism and self-indulgence and is followed by crowds, not only will the existing social order be shaken, but Roger´s personal transformation will also begin. Szymanowski himself referred to his work as a “mystery”– his themes are self-knowledge, sexuality, altered states of consciousness, but also religion and new forms of spirituality.

This original synthesis of musical and spiritual-philosophical influences in King Roger is one of the reasons why this piece has become closer to the modern audience in recent years and is experiencing its renaissance on the biggest opera stages of the world. 

Suitable for ages 15 and older

Cast

Roger II, King of Sicily – Michał Partyka
Roxana, his wife – Gabriela Hrženjak
Edrisi, an Arab scholar – Maksym Kutsenko
Shepherd – Juraj Hollý
Archbishop – Michal Onufer
Deaconess – Myroslava Havryliuk
Young boy – Oleksandr Tishchenko

National Theatre Košice chorus and orchestra, children's choir under the direction of Igor Dohovič

Creatives

Conductor: Peter Valentovič
Concept: Anton Korenči, Roland Khern Tóth, Stanislav Trnovský
Stage Director: Anton Korenči
Sets: Ondrej Zachar
Costumes: Boris Hanečka
Light Design: Róbert Farkaš
Chorus Master: Peter Valentovič