When German troops occupied Austria in 1938, Zemlinsky fled with his wife Louise to New York via Prague, with the short score of Canduales in his luggage. He had great hopes of producing the piece at the Metropolitan Opera, but on account of the somewhat delicate bed scene in Act II they dismissed the production. Zemlinsky’s hopes of building a new life in America were never realised since, just six months after his arrival, he suffered a stroke from which he was never to recover fully. To mark the 150th anniversary of Zemlinsky’s birth, Capriccio presents a newly remastered edition of the opera’s legendary first recording which was made in 1996.

Cast:
- König Kandaules: James O’Neal
- Gyges: Monte Pederson
- Nyssia: Nina Warren
- Phedros: Klaus Häger
- Syphax: Peter Galliard
- Nicomedes: Mariusz Kwiecin
- Pharnaces: Kurt Gysen
- Philebos: Simon Yang
- Sebas: Ferdinand Seiler
- Archelaos: Guido Jentjens