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Arts feature

The opera that wouldn’t die

Richard Bratby on the resurrection of wunderkind Erich Korngold’s long-neglected masterpiece

18 June 2022

9:00 AM

18 June 2022

9:00 AM

When Erich Wolfgang Korngold completed his third opera, Die tote Stadt, in August 1920, he’d barely turned 23. Yet such was his reputation that what followed was practically a Europe-wide bidding war for rights to the première. The young composer had his pick of companies and conductors (the Vienna State Opera tried and failed).

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Die tote Stadt is at Longborough Festival Opera from 21 to 27 June and at English National Opera from 25 March to 8 April 2023.

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