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Der Rosenkavalier 1989

July 22- August 24, 1989

The sophisticated elegance…

…of Maria Theresa’s Vienna comes alive in Strauss’ entertaining comic masterpiece of chivalry, deception and romance.

Music By
Richard Strauss
Libretto By
Hugo von Hofmannsthal

Synopsis

Act I

The scene is set in Maria Theresa’s Vienna. As morning sunlight streams into her boudoir, the Marschallin (Princess von Werdenberg) is embraced by her young love, Octavian (Count Rofrano) who hides when breakfast is brought, then again when loud voices are heard in the antechamber. The unexpected visitor is the Marschallin’s coarse cousin, Baron Ochs, who has come to discuss his pending marriage to Sophie von Faninal, daughter of a wealthy bourgeois. When he asks what knight could present Sophie with the silver engagement rose, the Marschallin suggests Octavian, who at the moment, disguised as the chambermaid Mariandel to avoid discovery, is flirting with Baron Ochs. As the room fills with retainers, petitioners and even an Italian tenor (whose aria is cut short by the Baron’s wrangling with a lawyer over Sophie’s dowry), Mariandel escapes; Ochs enlists a pair of Italian intriguers, Annina and Valzacchi, to locate her. When the room is cleared, the Marschallin muses on her wandering youth. Returning, Octavian is stunned when she suggests that one day he will tire of her; he leaves without a kiss. Starting up out of her reverie, the Marschallin calls him back, but late. Summoning a page, she sends the silver rose to Octavian.

Act II

Heralded by much excitement and swarms of lackeys, Octavian enters the Faninal’s ornate foyer and presents the silver rose to Sophie. The girl’s duenna, Marianne, chaperones a conversation between the youngsters, during which they begin to feel attracted to each other. Now Ochs bursts in, shocking Sophie with his crudity before going off with her father. Octavian embraces her, but the pair is caught by Annina and Valzacchi, who summon Ochs. When Octavian grazes the Baron’s arm with his sword, Ochs sends up a melodramatic yelp; in the ensuing confusion, Sophie tells her father she will never marry Ochs, while Octavian hires Annina and Valzacchi. When the Baron is alone, nursing his wound with wine, Annina comes in with a letter from Mariandel asking for a rendezvous. Intoxicated with his own charm, Ochs waltzes ecstatically around the room.

Act III

At Octavian’s instigation, the intriguers help prepare a room in a dingy inn. During Ochs’ and “Mariandel’s” intimate supper, grotesque heads pop out of trap doors and secret panels, terrifying the guilty Baron. Disguised, Annina runs in shrieking that Ochs is the father of her many children. The police soon arrive, followed by Faninal, who summons Sophie to disclaim Ochs’ wild assertion that Mariandel is his legitimate fiancée. The Marschallin sweeps in, forces the Baron to renounce Sophie, smooths over the scandal, then turns to Octavian. Lamenting that she must relinquish her lover so soon, she nevertheless accepts the truth and releases the bewildered boy to Sophie. Alone, the lovers marvel at their happiness, which seems a dream come true.

Artists

Ashley Putnam

Soprano

The Marschallin

Jeanne Piland

Mezzo-soprano

Octavian

Cheryl Parrish

Soprano

Sophie

Eric Halfvarson headshot

Eric Halfvarson

Bass-baritone

Baron Ochs

Ragnar Ulfung headshot

Ragnar Ulfung

Tenor

Valzacchi

Susan Graham headshot

Susan Graham

Mezzo-soprano

Annina

Sally Wolf headshot

Sally Wolf

Soprano

Marianne

Richard Drews

Tenor

An Italian Tenor

Peter Strummer

Bass-baritone

Herr von Faninal

Gimi Beni

Bass-baritone

The Notary

Kevin Skiles headshot

Kevin Skiles

Tenor

Major Domo/A Landlord

Darren Keith Woods headshot

Darren Keith Woods

Tenor

An Animal Vendor

James Ramlet

Bass

A Police Commissioner

Denise Oustalet

Dancer

A Flutist

Patrick Cea

Dancer

A Hairdresser

Luca Marino-Baker

Actor

Mohammed, a page

William Burden headshot

William Burden

Tenor

Lackey

John Shaw Kramar

Baritone

Lackey/Musician

Michael Krueger headshot

Michael Krueger

Baritone

Lackey/Musician

Arn Prince

Tenor

Lackey

Beth Roberts

Soprano

A Milliner

Melora Love

Mezzo-soprano

A Widow of Noble Family

Eleanor Kelley

Mezzo-soprano

Orphan/Child

Lydia Milá

Soprano

Orphan/Child

Jeanne Reavel

Mezzo-soprano

Orphan/Child

Jeffrey Reynolds

Tenor

Leopold/Major Domo/Waiter

Michael Orzechowski

Baritone

Dr. Medicus/Waiter

Lawrence Formosa

Baritone

Waiter

Craig Grayson

Bass-baritone

Servant/Waiter

Seth Malkin

Bass-baritone

Servant/Coachman

Laura Aikin headshot

Laura Aikin

Soprano

Child

Don Bravo

Bass-baritone

Servant/Musician

Kent Smith

Baritone

Musician

Keith-Frederic Howard

Bass-baritone

Coachman

Daniel Smith

Bass-baritone

House Boots

John Crosby headshot

John Crosby

Conductor

John Copley headshot

John Copley

Director

John Conklin headshot

John Conklin

Scenic Designer

David Walker

Costume Designer

Craig Miller headshot

Craig Miller

Lighting Designer

Gary Wedow headshot

Gary Wedow

Chorus Master