Korngold Das Wunder der Heliane opera to a libretto by Hans Müller-Einigen after Der Heilige by Hans Kaltneker. Directed 2018 by Christof Loy at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Stars Sara Jakubiak (Heliane), Brian Jagde (Der Fremde or the Stranger), Josef Wagner (Der Herrscher or the Ruler), Okka von der Damerau (Die Botin or the Messinger), Derek Welton (Der Pförtner or the Doorman), and Burkhard Ulrich (Der blinde Schwertrichter or the Chief Justice). Marc Albrecht conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Set design by Johannes Leiacker; costume design by Barbara Drosihn. Directed for TV by Götz Filenius. Sung in German. Released 2019, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
This opera was unearthed by Decca as part of its Entartete Musik project bringing to light works by Jewish composers buried during the Nazi era in Germany. According to Clive Paget in the December 2019 Opera News (pages 56-57), subject title is the “best-sung version” yet published of the Miracle of Heliane. Paget especially praises lead singers Jakubiak and Jagde, Marc Albrecht in the pit directing a huge, “glittering” [“Hollywood Sound”] score, and Loy’s staging. So this appears to be a “must buy” for dedicated fans of modern opera or movie music.
Here’s a trailer from Naxos:
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