Michael Hendrick, a lyric rather than a heroic tenor, delivered a sensitive account of the Stranger’s role, coming into his own when the orchestra was more restrained in the final act.

THE word had got around that last night’s Das Wunder der Heliane (Heliane’s Miracle) was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. Never heard in Britain, and very rarely anywhere, Korngold’s fourth opera was regarded by its composer as his masterpiece. Last night’s concert performance under Vladimir Jurowski, a highpoint of the LPO season, enabled us to judge the workand possibly to understand why it is not more often done.

It is a mystical celebration of love, both physical and spiritual. A messianic Stranger preaches the joys of carnality and is condemned to death by the Ruler, symbolizing the repressive instincts from which the free spirits of the Twenties were determined to liberate themselves.

The Ruler’s wife, Queen Heliane, develops an intensely compassionate relationship with the Stranger, which is all but consummated. They both die, but return to life transfigured for a final ecstatic duet.

Korngold’s music, rampantly voluptuous at the best of times, is sent intooverdrive by the erotic charge of Hans Kaltneker’s libretto….

https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-171672852/korngold-goes-into-erotic-overdrive

by Barry Millington

The Evening Standard (London)