Richard Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier (DVD) - Opera Australia

UPC: 5060266600357

Product Features

• Title: Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
• Format: DVD
• Performance by: Opera Australia Chorus and Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra
• Conductor: Andrew Litton
• Stage Director: Brian FitzGerald
• Main Cast:Language: Sung in German
  • Cheryl Barker (The Marschallin)
  • Catherine Carby (Count Octavian Rofrano)
  • Manfred Hemm (Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau)
  • Warwick Fyfe (Herr von Faninal)
  • Emma Pearson (Sophie von Faninal)
  • Andrew Brunsdon (Valzacchi)
  • Jacqueline Dark (Annina)
  • Henry Choo (Italian Singer)
• Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian
• Audio: Stereo
• Extras:Running Time: Not provided (standard for full opera recordings is approximately 3-4 hours)
  • Cast Gallery
• Region: All regions (NTSC format)
• Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic widescreen
• Publisher: Opera Australia

Overview

Der Rosenkavalier, one of Richard Strauss's most enduring operas, is a beautifully staged production by Opera Australia, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House. This opera, a collaboration between Strauss and his librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal, captures the complex emotions of love, jealousy, and the passing of time through exquisite music and sharp, witty dialogue.

Cheryl Barker stars as the Marschallin, an aristocratic woman confronting the inevitable loss of her youth and her lover, Octavian, portrayed by Catherine Carby. As the youthful Octavian is drawn to the innocent Sophie von Faninal (Emma Pearson), the boorish Baron Ochs (Manfred Hemm) adds a humorous yet critical foil to the tale of shifting affections and societal expectations. Andrew Litton leads the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, delivering a rich, dynamic performance of Strauss's sweeping score, while Carl Friedrich Oberle's classic set design provides a fitting backdrop to the lush Vienna of the 18th century.

Interesting Facts

• Der Rosenkavalier premiered in 1911 and is a comic opera known for its sophisticated wit and lush orchestration, often compared to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro for its themes of mistaken identity and romance.
• Cheryl Barker’s portrayal of the Marschallin has been praised for its emotional depth, capturing the character’s graceful resignation to the passing of time.
• The opera is celebrated for its use of waltzes, an unusual element for Strauss, who more commonly composed more chromatic, complex scores.
• Manfred Hemm’s performance as Baron Ochs, with his authentic Viennese accent, brings a lively and comedic authenticity to the character.
• The Sydney Opera House serves as a stunning backdrop for this recording, one of Australia’s most iconic cultural venues.
• Andrew Litton is known for his mastery of Strauss’s operatic works, having conducted them internationally to critical acclaim.

Track Listing

Main Characters:

1. The Marschallin (Princess von Werdenberg) – Cheryl Barker
2. Count Octavian Rofrano – Catherine Carby
3. Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau – Manfred Hemm
4. Herr von Faninal – Warwick Fyfe
5. Sophie von Faninal – Emma Pearson
6. Valzacchi – Andrew Brunsdon
7. Annina – Jacqueline Dark
8. Italian Singer – Henry Choo

Publishers

• Label: Opera Australia
• Production: Opera Australia and Ballet Orchestra, Sydney Opera House

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