Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Das Wunder der Heliane
Of all the late Romantic operatic effusions that London records has recorded as part of its series of music banned by the Nazis, this is the most extraordinary. Korngold was one the first great composers of film music, having settled in Hollywood in the late 1930s. So if you enjoy movie music of the sweeping, epic variety, you'll love this. The story of the opera is, typically, a fairy tale about the triumph of goodness over evil, and it's simply the last word in orchestral glitter and opulence--sort of like Strauss on steroids. Almost impossibly difficult and costly to perform, we're lucky to have this stunning performance to preserve what would undoubtedly be a remarkable experience in the theater.--David Hurwitz