A brilliant performance of Schönberg's monumental work at the Prague State Opera. Arnold Schönberg composed Gurre-Lieder to a text by J. P. Jacobsen about the tragic love of the Danish king Waldemar and his mistress Tove Lille, who was murdered out of jealousy by Queen Helviga. He orchestrated the composition for a monumental orchestral and vocal ensemble: five vocal solos, a narrator, a male and mixed choir, and a huge orchestra comprising 25 woodwind instruments, 25 brass instruments, four harps, a celesta, 16 different percussion instruments (including iron chains), and an exceptionally large string section. Every performance of this masterpiece, composed down to the last detail, is truly an overwhelming experience. SOČR chief conductor Petr Popelka seized this unique opportunity, as at the time of the performance of Songs he was also chief conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and in this unique project he brought together the two ensembles entrusted to him.
Michael Weinius
as Waldemar
Susanne Bernhard
as Tove
Štěpánka Pučálková
as Wood Dove
Yngve Søberg
as Peasant
Kevin Conners
as Klaus the Jester
Dietrich Henschel
as Narrator
Petr Popelka
as Self – Conductor
Vlastimil Kobrle
as Self – Concertmaster
Jon Gjesme
as Self – Concertmaster
Petr Fiala
as Self – Choirmaster
Josef Chabroň
as Self – Choirmaster
