Search - Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Klauspeter Siebel, Beate Bilandzija :: Korngold - Der Ring des Polykrates / Siebel

A surprising treat

G.D. | Norway | 12/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Korngold's first opera, written when the composer was 17 and thus further substantiating the claim that he might just be the most talented wunderkind ever (perhaps with the exception of Mendelssohn). The sheer mastery of invention, of scoring and vocal writing is beyond what many composers acquire in a lifetime. Even the libretto, adapted by Korngold himself from a comic drama by Heinrich Teweles, reveals an unusual talent. True, the plot is nothing special, and the libretto is no literary masterpiece, but it hangs well together and provides a fine basis for an opera.



The music is beautiful, well paced and memorable, and superbly underscores the drama, if perhaps not on the level of, say, Die Tode Stadt. The singers, especially the main characters, might not be well-known, but they are truly excellent. So is the orchestra and Siebel's conducting. In short, this release makes as strong a case for this youthful work as one could hope for. Strongly recommended."

9.5 out of 10, lovely lyrical pre Tote Stadt work!

Mr. DAVID Geer | Sydney Australia | 10/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Amazon review gives the plot, the singing and paying are very nearly superb, though I would have preferred a slightly less Slavonic soprano sound but that's a very minor quibble in an otherwise lovely disc."