It is hard to believe that for decades Karol Szymanowski´s masterpiece, his magnificant opera King Roger of 1926, led such a shadowy existance until it was revealed for what it is by such powerful champions as Simon Rattle: one of the 20th century´s finest operas. The visually strong production by David Pountney provided the Bregenz Festival with one of it´s most abiding successes in recent years. Scott Hendricks in the baritone title role and Olga Pasichnyk as his queen, Roxana, were both rapturously applauded. “What grandiose music!” (Süddeutsche Zeitung)