Among Korngold’s mature operas, only Die tote Stadt has enjoyed anything close to a widespread reappraisal; Das Wunder der Heliane, although subject to occasional surges of interest, remains a relative rarity. However the exceptional new production at the Deutsche Oper, directed by Christof Loy and conducted by Marc Albrecht, may have enough of a galvanising effect to turn Heliane into a belated popular success. Although the work itself is not without its shortcomings, the affectionate, ambassadorial grace of Mr Albrecht’s musical direction, the dedication of an excellent cast and, above all, the taut intensity of Mr Loy’s staging, seemed determined to show everyone in the audience just what we had been missing by neglecting this opera for so long.
Admittedly, not even the best efforts of Mr Loy could smooth over all the oddities in the…
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