Der Ring des Polykrates

Craig Byrd — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:50:32 +0000

Composer Erich Korngold is best known for his rousing film scores for The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk, Captain Blood and Kings Row. Like many a composer who worked in the earlier days of the film industry, Korngold also wrote classical or serious music. Amongst his compositions was an opera he wrote at the tender age of 17. That opera, Der Ring des Polykrates, is the second production of the inaugural season for Numi Opera. There are two performances this week at Zipper Hall at the Colburn School on December 19th and 22nd.

Der Ring des Polykrates is a one-act comedic opera that tells the story of a young man, Wilhelm Arndt, who seemingly has everything: he has money and a happy marriage. When a long-absent friend, Peter Vogel, returns into his life Arndt finds himself challenged by Vogel to find something he can – and should – sacrifice so that his good fortune continues.

Tenor Scott Ramsay sings the role of Arndt. Soprano Shana Blake Hill sings the role of Laura (Arndt’s wife.) Roberto Perlas Gomez, a baritone, sings the role of Vogel. Also in the cast are Alex Boyer and Emily Rosenberg. Francesco Milioto conducts.

Directing Der Ring des Polykrates is Numi Opera founder Gail Gordon. To learn more about Numi Opera go here to read our interview with her when Numi Opera launched it first season in May. (This is their second production.)

Korngold’s work in both film and classical music is wildly entertaining and deserving of far greater attention that it receives today. That Numi Opera has selected this lesser-known work represents a step forward for opera in Los Angeles.

For tickets go here.

Photo of Erich Korngold by Cosmo-Sileo Associates (New York, N.Y.)/Courtesy of the New York Public Library Archives

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Ten Years – Bravo Gustavo!

Craig Byrd — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 17:09:33 +0000

It was on October 3, 2009 at the Hollywood Bowl that Gustavo Dudamel made his debut as the Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The concert was a free, five-hour show that included a performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Ten years later the LA Phil is celebrating Dudamel’s first decade with a concert that combines classical music and film music. The concert, Ten Years – Bravo Gustavo, takes place this Thursday, July 18th.

As befits a celebration of Dudamel’s anniversary, members of YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles) will be joining the LA Phil musicians.

Thursday’s concert will open with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concert No. 1. The soloist is Khatia Buniatishvili. The Georgian-born pianist has not only toured the world playing with pretty much every major orchestra, she’s performed as a soloist, with her sister Gvantsa and has collaborated with the band Coldplay.

The second half of the program is dedicated to film music. This will not be your usual line-up of film music, though it will all certainly be familiar. The program features Erich Korngold’s “Fanfare” and “March of the Merry Men from Robin Hood; Max Steiner’s Suite from Casablanca, Bernard Herrmann’s Suite from Vertigo; Franz Waxman’s Sunset Boulevard Suite, Henry Mancini’s Theme from The Pink Panther and selections of John Williams’ score for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The latter cue seems only appropriate as the LA Phil recently released Celebrating John Williams on Deutsche Grammophon Records.

With the 100th anniversary of the Hollywood Bowl itself coming up in three years, this concert will be, perhaps, a little taste of what might be in store three seasons from now.

For tickets go here.

Check back here at Cultural Attaché for our interview with Khatia Buniatishvili.

Photo of Gustavo Dudamel by Adam Latham/Courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.

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Erich Korngold Archives - Cultural Attaché

Der Ring des Polykrates

Ten Years – Bravo Gustavo!