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Król Roger
90
Polish
Synopsis
King Roger of Sicily rules a Christian kingdom but is unsettled by a charismatic, exotic Shepherd who appears and preaches a pagan, sensual religion of ecstasy. The Shepherd’s message awakens repressed desires in Roger and his wife, Roxana. The opera is a psychological conflict between rational, Christian order and irrational, Dionysian, homoerotic ecstasy. At the climax, Roger temporarily succumbs to the Shepherd’s seduction but ultimately rejects both extremes, embracing a lonely, wise solitude.
Composer
Karol Szymanowski
Lyricist / Librettist / Playwright
Karol Szymanowski
Year of composition/publication / premiere
1924-1926
Genre
Opera
LGBTQAI+ category
Gay
Level of centrality
Main character
Characters
King Roger, The Shepherd (handsome, youthful figure who seduces both Roger and Roxana)
Voice type
Baritone, Tenor
Pronouns
Publisher / Rights holder
Universal Edition (Vienna)
Where to buy / access the work
Performance rights
For performance rights, please contact the composer and/or publisher to ensure legal compliance.
Official website
Audio recording(s)
Video performance(s)
Keywords
Szymanowski, Król Roger, King Roger, homosexual desire, Dionysian, Shepherd, queer opera, 20th-century Polish opera, psycho‑sexual drama