Das Wunder der Heliane

Although Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) remains best-known as one of Hollywood’s greatest film composers, he was a wunderkind in the musical life of early 20th-century Vienna, writing a series of operas in his late teens and 20s that were remarkable for opulently romantic scores that boasted a creamy mixture of Puccini and Richard Strauss. His last was this erotic fantasy from 1927, imbued with murky psychological and political themes. Like his other works, Das Wunder der Heliane was suppressed by the Nazi regime—as were those of other contemporary Jewish composers—and denounced as degenerate, and it was largely forgotten after Korngold's departure for the United States in 1934—until a recent revival of Korngold’s long-neglected non-Hollywood output. The libretto is a parable in which a stranger is put on trial for preaching love and happiness in a land of gloom and despair, but Queen Heliane offers herself to him; in the end both die but are resurrected and proceed together to heavenly bliss. Although the plot may be a tad peculiar, the score is a marvel, and is beautifully performed in this 2018 production from the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Christof Loy’s staging is simple and elegant, while Marc Albrecht leads the company orchestra and chorus in a vivid reading of the work. Despite a few signs of strain, the principal singers—soprano Sara Jakubiak (Heliane), tenor Brian Jagde (the Stranger), and bass-baritone Josef Wagner (the King)—cope well with the music’s considerable demands, and the supporting cast is also strong. Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and PCM stereo, extras include a fascinating 1928 sound recording of the orchestral introduction to Act III of the opera, and a gallery of rare archival photos and artwork. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)