Tony Legge and Taryn Fiebig explain the delights in store for audiences prepared give in to a bit of erotic mysticism.

It’s probably fair to say that most Australian music lovers never thought they would get the chance to see Karol Szymanowski’s operatic masterpiece King Roger. The Polish composer, born in 1882, has had his champions – Sir Simon Rattle and Pierre Boulez among them – but he still seems a bit of a rarity with a reputation for erotic mysticism more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

Karol Szymanowski in front of his home “Atma”. Zakopane, 1935

However, thanks to Opera Australia’s savvy co-production relationship with Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House, not only will Sydneysiders get the chance to see Kasper Holten’s Grammy-nominated staging of the composer’s best-known opera, but OA Associate Music Director Anthony Legge has put together a Szymanowski tasting plate to play in the Sydney Opera House Utzon Room for those wanting to get to know a little more of the music .

“Unlike Chopin, who is probably the most well-known Polish composer, Szymanowski did not travel much except on holidays...