Ensconced in the Grand Palace Hotel, the Dictator declares a needless war.
He is surrounded by those who have suffered beneath him, and the plot is set for his demise.
But, for some, the inexplicable attraction to power - and powerful people - is too much to overcome ...
A bold examination of the eternal allure that powerful people can hold over a populace, The Dictator is a timely and stark warning to us all. Krenek's short opera premiered in 1928 with its powerful subject cloaked in a rich, melodic and often beautiful score. Following this concert performance will be a panel discussion on the opera's historical context, and representations of war and dictators on stage.
