Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier from the Royal Opera, Covent Garden

Program notes courtesy of WFMT.

Richard Strauss’s bittersweet comic opera Der Rosenkavalier marked the start of one of the great artistic partnerships between the composer and the playwright Hugo von Hofmannsthal. In this production by Robert Carsen, Renée Fleming stars as the Marschallin and Alice Coote, as her young lover Octavian. Knowing their love will end, they plot together to save Sophie von Faninal (Sophie Bevan) from a loveless marriage to the philandering Baron Ochs (Matthew Rose). The Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House are conducted by Andris Nelsons. This broadcast was recorded in January 2017.

Matthew Rose as Baron Ochs, Alice Coote as Octavian

(Catherine Ashmore)

CONDUCTOR:  Andris Nelsons 

CAST:

Marie Thérèse von Werdenberg: Renée Fleming

Octavian, Count Rofrano: Alice Coote

Sophie van Faninal: Sophie Bevan

Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau: Matthew Rose

Faninal: Jochen Schmeckenbecher

Valzacchi: Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke

Annina: Angela Simkin

Italian Singer: Giorgio Berrugi

Marschallin's Major Domo: Samuel Sakker

Faninal's Major Domo: Thomas Atkins

Marianne Leitmetzerin: Miranda Keys

Innkeeper: Alasdair Elliott

Police Inspector: Scott Conner

Notary: Jeremy White

Lackey / Waiter: Dominic Barrand 

Chorus: Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden