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Mon, 30 Oct 2006

Der Rosenkavalier

Richard Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier
Wiener Staatsoperchor
Wiener Philharmoniker
Semyon Bychov
Robert Carsen, Brian Large
2 DVDs, TDK

This is from the Salzburg Festspiele of 2004 and is a very good example of Strauss staging and performance. It is interesting that Strauss doesn't generally attract directors who wish to make anachronistic versions to show their own senses of irony and with-itness... thankfully. Some of them seem a little like the management of the V & A museum in London who's mission largely seems to be to destroy the Victorian grace of the place in a misguided attempt to be cool. And of course, now is now, and next week it is last week and so it becomes rather silly.

Stagers of operas have better excuses though. What is created lasts only for the season and audiences, who have seen most of the repertoire before, like an occasional shock.

There are no shocks here however. It is a nicely done rendition that will give Strauss fans a pleasant 201 minutes. (Baron K)

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