Schreker: Der Schatzgräber (complete opera recorded in 2022) BLU-RAY

Franz Schreker's career was cut short by the events of 1933 in Germany but he achieved real fame with his operas, and the huge success of Der Schatzgräber ('The Treasure Hunter') in the 1920s was the high point of his career. In a complex and ultimately tragic tale of destructive greed, desire and toxic social hierarchy, the innkeeper's daughter Els is forced to confront the consequences of her murderous intent in what conductor Marc Albrecht considers 'a work of exceptional quality, concentration and significance'. Following the huge success of Korngold's Das Wunder der Heliane (Naxos DVD 2.110584-85 / Blu-ray NBD0083V), director Christof Loy continues his exploration of strong female characters and neglected 20th-century masterpieces with this highly acclaimed Deutsche Oper Berlin production.

Director Christof Loy and conductor Marc Albrecht have teamed up again to revive this neglected opera from the early 20th century. This opera was a triumph at its world premiere in 1920 and in subsequent years, but a National Socialist ban on performances sealed its demise. With its narrative blend of fantasy and realism and the powerful expressiveness and dramatic intensity of its music, this is an opera that has plenty of relevance today in both its themes and its stylistic richness.