Erich Korngold’s rarely performed “Der Ring des Polykrates” at Zipper Hall
Scott Ramsay as Wilhelm Arndt and Shana Blake Hill as Laura. Photo by Philicia EndelmanLove conquers all in Korngold’s early opera “Der Ring des Polykrates” at Zipper Hall A musical prodigy, Erich Korngold’s first two operas, “Der Ring des Polykrates” (a domestic comedy) and “Violanta” (a tragedy) were performed together in 1916, conducted by Bruno Walther. They were written a couple of years earlier, when Korngold was just 17. Despite this early start, Korngold only went on to compose three or four other operas, the most famous of which is “Die tote Stadt,” based on “Bruges-la-Morte” by Georges Rodenbach. However, he did become an in-demand Hollywood film composer, for “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938) and “The Sea Hawk” (1940), among others. “Der Ring des Polykrates” is rarely performed, but Numi Opera, founded by Gail R. Gordon to promote works by mostly Jewish composers who were banned and banished by the Nazis in the 1930s and ‘40s, hopes to revive many of them, largely in the spirit, I assume, of LA Opera’s former Recovered Voices series. That series went kaput, but not before presenting some splendid works by Franz Schreker, Walter Braunfels, Erwin Schulhoff, Alexander…
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