Goldmark: Die Königin von Saba, Opera in 4 acts

Bollon, Fabrice, Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg, soliści

CPO 555013

A page of glory for the Freiburg Theater and for me the definitive benchmark recording of this neoromantic opera. « klassik-heute. com found these words of praise for our recent release featuring Zandonai's opera Francesca da Rimini, and this month brings yet another operatic wonder from Freiburg, again conducted by Fabrice Bollon. Karl Goldmark's first opera earned him a pathbreaking success in 1875 while relishing the sumptuous enthusiasm for Orientalism felt during the late nineteenth century. Die Königin von Saba (The Queen of Sheba) became one of the most-performed operas of the turn of the century, and the great Karl Kraus himself certified that Goldmark was truly the greatest musical dramatist next to Wagner. The Queen of Sheba, a ravishing femme fatale, accepts King Solomon's invitation to come from Sheba to Jerusalem, and the young Assad falls madly in love with her along the way. Whenever the two are alone, she makes no secret of her love for him, but in public she denies that she has ever met him or has tender feelings for him. Languishing in melancholy and grief, the unhappy male lover in the end finds only one way out: death for love.

CD x 3

CPO

5/5/16

761203501328

Gramophone Award: 'Nomination' (2017)
Gramophone: 'Gramophone Choice' (2016)