See Strauss’ Romantic Masterpiece “Der Rosenkavalier”

Sunday, May 14, 1 p.m., Orcas Center

— from Susannah Weaver for Orcas Center —

Orcas Center presents the New York Metropolitan Opera’s revival of “Der Rosenkavalier” by Richard Strauss streamed Live in HD on Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m. Come see the Met’s new production of Strauss’s rich, romantic masterpiece starring Renée Fleming, one of the greatest sopranos of our time.

Come see Renée Fleming in her final performances as the Marschallin in the Met’s new production of “Der Rosenkavalier.” Robert Carsen directs the new production—the company’s first new staging of the piece since 1969—with Sebastian Weigle conducting all performances. The starry cast includes Elīna Garanča in her company role debut as the Marschallin’s young lover, Octavian, opposite Erin Morley as Sophie, the innocent young woman who comes between Marschallin and Octavian; Günther Groissböck as Baron Ochs, the Marschallin’s oafish cousin; Marcus Brück in his Met debut as Sophie’s father Faninal; and Matthew Polenzani as the Italian Singer. Carsen’s staging features set design by Paul Steinberg who has updated the original setting.

Fleming was last seen in her acclaimed interpretation as the Marschallin with the company in 2010. She has sung the role 18 performances in her signature role at the Met, as well as the Vienna State Opera, Zurich Opera, Munich Opera Festival, and Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Over the course of her career, she has sung 22 different roles in more than 240 performances in a wide-ranging repertory. Her most recent appearances with the company have included Hanna Glawari in the new production of Lehár’s “The Merry Widow;” the title characters in Dvořák’s “Rusalka,” Handel’s “Rodelinda,” Rossini’s “Armida,” and Massenet’s “Thaïs;” Desdemona in Verdi’s “Otello;” and the Countess in Strauss’s “Capriccio.”

Garanča makes her company role debut as Octavian, a signature role for the Latvian mezzo-soprano, which she has also sung with the Vienna State Opera and Deutsche Oper Berlin. After making her Met debut in 2008 as Rosina in Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” she starred as Angelina in Rossini’s “La Cenerentola,” Sesto in Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito,” the title role of Bizet’s “Carmen,” and last season, her role debut as Sara in the Met premiere of Donizetti’s “Roberto Devereux.”

Basically a bedroom sex farce, “Der Rosenkavalier” is interspersed with philosophical musings on the inexorable march of time and the personal ravages that flow in its wake,” said the Huffington Post. “If that sounds incongruous, Strauss was not a predictable composer. Known as a leading avant-gardist – he had written “Elektra” just two years earlier – Strauss wanted to try his hand at comedy and” Rosenkavalier” started out as a sort of German opera buffa.”

The New York Times raves: “Fleming should be proud of the magnificent performance she gave… She sang beautifully on this milestone night for her, and for opera. Garanča’s plush, sensual voice is ideal—a revelation.” “Garanča sang like warm gold as the 17-year-old, hormonal, lovestruck Octavian,” praised The Washington Post—“Ardent, coltish, and radiantly sung.”

The May 13 matinee performance will be transmitted worldwide as part of the Met’s Live in HD series, which now reaches more than 2,000 movie theaters in 71 countries around the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to be initiated to a “front row” opera with internationally acclaimed greats at Orcas Center Sunday afternoon May 14.

Tickets for the Met’s Der Rosenkavalier are $20 and $15 for students, with $2 off for Orcas Center members. They may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office which is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-2 pm. Limited $5 subsidized tickets are also available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017 season visit www.orcascenter.org.