King Roger
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Lerner returned to Des Moines Metro Opera in 2026, reuniting with director Chas Rader-Shieber as choreographer for the company premiere of Karol Szymanowski’s King Roger. His choreography drove the opera’s central bacchanal, moving the performers from controlled, ceremonial gestures into a feverish world of seduction, surrender, and collective abandon. The production sits squarely inside Lerner’s larger practice: using physical action to show a group changing in real time and turning an internal struggle into something the audience can see and feel.
Critics called the choreography “memorable,” described it as “an ancient bacchanal colliding with a modern nightclub,” and praised its “pulsing limbs, ethereal lifts, and carnal undulations.” Stage Direction- Chas Rader-Shieber Conductor- David Neely Choreography - Isaac Martin Lerner Scenic Design - Jimmy Stubs Costume Design- Robert Perdziola Lighting Design - Connie Yun Make-up/Hair Design - Brittany V.A. Rappise Stage Management - Lauren Wickett Reviews
https://operatoday.com/2026/07/des-moines-king-roger-reigns-supreme/ https://classicalvoiceamerica.org/2026/07/15/with-3-summer-hits-iowa-opera-displays-its-quality-versatility/ https://littlevillagemag.com/review-des-moines-metro-opera-summer-season-2026/ https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/Review-KING-ROGER-at-Des-Moines-Metro-Opera-20260709 https://garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/a-queer-polish-opera-in-indianola |
Photos by Corey Weaver
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