Der König Candaules: Drama in drei Akten

In a brilliant, sun‑baked kingdom a proud ruler becomes obsessed with the unrivaled beauty of his queen. Convinced that his subjects should share in his admiration, he summons his most trusted servant and orders him to behold the royal wife in secret. The command sets a fragile trust on a precarious edge, hinting at the clash between admiration, pride, and personal honor.

The servant, caught between loyalty to his king and a fear of overstepping forbidden boundaries, wrestles with the weight of the request. As he debates whether to obey or resist, the tension ripples through the court, exposing deeper questions about power, secrecy, and the price of desire. Listeners will feel the acute suspense of the first act, where each choice threatens to reshape the lives of all involved.