the stakes are high
Rarely performed, this charming domestic opera takes us back to 1914, where the musician William Arnt is sitting pretty, with a new promotion, a beautiful wife, and a healthy looking inheritance on the way. When news reaches him that his long-lost best pal Peter is on his way for a visit, William adds it to his list of positives. But the separation hasn't quite had the same effect on this returning wanderer.
The first opera composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold when he was just 17 years old, this one-act work is noted for its rich melodies and Wagnerian influence.
Friendship never ends - the ring of polykrates
When old friend Peter comes to stay with married couple William and Laura, it is clear that this is no friendly reunion. Peter is jealous of their wedded bliss and William's flourishing career and wants a slice of the action. Using the example of Polykrates, a man who was forced by the Gods to give up his most precious possession, he attempts to cause trouble in paradise. Can he steal Laura from William's arms or will his attempts fall on deaf ears?