Laura Aikin, John Mark Ainsley, Alfred Muff, Hanna Schwarz, Günter Missenhardt, Matthias Goerne, Axel Köhler, Anton Scharinger
Directed for Stage by Dieter Dorn
Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor; Wiener Philharmoniker
Markus Stenz

Hans Werner Henzes most recent opera had its world première at the Salzburg Festival in 2003. It was immediately declared a masterpiece by the international critics and it excited great interest with festival and later TV broadcast audiences. Henze often acclaimed as the greatest living opera composer has said that this will be his last opera and for the first time he wrote the libretto himself. He chose an old Syrian fairy tale, a multi-faceted story about three monarchs, three sons and three treasures, its moral: never give up. This is an unusually vivid and entertaining staging full of amazing sounds and bewitching images and the musical and dramatic performances are of the highest rank. With a cast of young international stars, Matthias Goerne, one of the most sought-after young baritones, singing the leading role and the Vienna Philharmonic in the pit, this performance was bound to be a triumph. (less info)