Richard Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier

[flautist]

Malin Hartelius FTW!

[BarfussmanninBerlin]

love

[eduardoecassimiro]

Pancho, gostamos muito do desempenho de Amel Brahim nas Bachianas Brasileiras.

Aqui no Brasil, não temos acesso a este material.

Seria possível nos enviar?

Ficaríamos muito agradecidos.

[Drelnis]

Octavian's costume reminds me of Cherubino :D

[cemoyka]

danke schönn

[gerbschmitt]

just because strauss stayed doesnt make him a nazi. fear can make u so a lot of things. Khruschev was once speaking in america about the horrors of Stalin and someone yelled out "why didnt you do anything to stop it?" Khruschev pounded the podium violently and screamed "who said that!?" nobody owned up to asking the question and he said "that is why.'

[gerbschmitt]

why is sophie behind a door and why are they in a kitchen?

[mkurnat]

who's the creepy guy in the back? whoa.

[PJinBston]

4:27 "Which of you shall we say doth love our dinner plates best?

[TheVrajr]

Great singing, great acting, bizarre staging.

[meyerhoff31]

I love the way he stalks her so funny

[theatricus]

love it! i've stage managed this production in Zürich and it is still one of my all time favorite operas ever.

[rezila]

mal wieder beschissene inszenierung

[lovezyah67]

KASAROVA!!!! WE LOVE U!

[sjnsjn12]

yeah~~ me too me too

[ARTUROPVIOLA]

all my starts in these duet go for Malin!!!! she is the singer that gets my attention!!! Kasarova .... she does what she knows, whether I like it or not is not of anyone business. each one enjoys as they think fit!

[rlee1976]

I can't stand how VK gets real artsy in the beginning - you can't do that with Strauss, playing with the phrasing and tempo, it's too mimicked in the orchestra with the winds to mess around with that.

[stefan103]

A magical aria for women. Most of the opera isn't as interesting. But for women performers this opera is transcendent and it belongs to them.

[Andreamus]

I disagree and I agree. As a woman Rosenkavalier belongs to the absolute *transcendent* category. Actually I identify with Feltmarshallin more than I think is ...well ... more than I would like too.. "Sei Er nun nicht wie aller Men sind..."

*sigh*.....

But Presentation of the Rose is of such sheer beauty that is just.. beyond words....

[DDBconducts]

And how old is the Feltmarshallin ?

[Andreamus]

Disagree... to a certain degree, though... I must admit - . 3rd act i'd like to fast forward to the foreplay of the terzetto... "Es war nicht mehr als eine Farce.."

But this.. this.. is of such indescribable beauty that I if one decided to leave Earth, there would not be a more transcendent and tranquil way to go...

[Jouwl]

She looks a little like Reese Witherspoon from certain angles.

Also, I'm amazed at their control - I'd like to sing that well :<

[LindaLaCagnina]

I'm just so sorry that the whole horrible Hitler era ever happened. It seems that we just can't appreciate the German composers without political comment. What a monstrous contribution he made to society in every way possible.

[sanjosemike]

Undoubtedly a number of posters were surprised that I knew as much about music as I do...or that I can write well.

In fact, even though I am an amateur, I can play all 5 Beethoven Piano Concertoes. One poster dismissed me as a "paranoid lunatic."

A recent trip to London or Madrid by those here will dispel my "paranoia."

Europe is about to be overtaken by Islam. When it does, all the Opera houses there will be closed.

Wait and see.

sanjosemike

[Nullifidian]

And that poster stands by his assessment of you. You claimed that Muslims could ban classical music by a vote of Parliament, where only four MPs are Muslim. I was unaware that the collective forces of Glasgow Central, Perry Barr, Dewsbury, and Tooting could leverage such a major change in British culture.

I was last in the UK a few months ago. It didn't seem to me, and doesn't now, that the approximately 3% of Britons who are Muslims are in any position to remake Britain in their image.

[etiterum]

I propose all Opera houses closed for a hunderd years. (expecially the bayreuth festival)

[sanjosemike]

I hasten to remind you and other readers who are angry with me, that Rosenkavalier has two women protagonists, who while they are singing and kissing have one dressed in drag.

My intention is not to condemn or "cheapen" the art (after all, it is a comedy/tragedy about aging) and the power of un-democratic aristocracy, but to also remind you that due to the above reasons, this would be banned in Muslim Countries...and it is...

Respectfully,

sanjosemike

[burtsbees2]

when you use phrases like "anti-war liberals" and "they", you need to realize that you invite negative responses from all sorts of people who would rather enjoy this performance than have someone's, as you put it, "ranting" splashed all over it. as an educated individual that can appreciate other view points, I would encourage you to find another place to do this, and not display anything that can easily be construed as anti-diplomatic hyperbole where it is not appropriate.

[sanjosemike]

In the U.S. we just elected a president who may or may not confront the dangers of Islam. The Jury is still out.

My intention is to get people who love Western Art to start thinking about the challenges that face it, including everything from rap music, to Islam, the sworn enemy of Western Art.

Even though I irritated posters here, my guess is that they will remember my posts the next time there is an attack by Islam against the West and everything it represents.

(continued)

[sanjosemike]

But yours and fellow listeners distaste for me does not obviate the threat that our great tradition is under...

The solution: I think we should be proud of our culture, and support those who see this as a battle of cultures, in addition to military confrontations.

It's not a matter of liberal vs conservative. The Danes will tell you that when you review their battle with Muslims over cartoons of Mohammad.

If I got some listeners riled, I think that's OK. (continued)...

[sanjosemike]

THE PRESENTATION OF THE ROSE

has some of the most excrutiatingly beautiful music ever written...

I respectfully remind listeners that there are group of religionists who want to take this all away from us...and return us to the 8th Century...a land without Beethoven...

Khomeini banned all Western music...

If you are an anti-war liberal just remember what we stand to lose if they win. "Londonstan" will soon have the biggest Mosque in the World...

sanjosemike

[burtsbees2]

as an anti-war liberal who has sung both zerbinetta and sophie and has infinite appreciation for this music, I offer you this quote by Toscanini;

"To Strauss the composer I take off my hat; to Strauss the man I put it back on again."

we cannot forget that this music was written by someone who allowed his, and beethoven's music, to be made into propaganda by a government that practiced intolerance.

[sanjosemike]

Burtsbees2, you make a valid point. Over the years I too have struggled with R. Strauss's "flirtation" with Nazism. Strauss had Jews in his own family. He could have left Germany, like Hindemith, but chose to stay instead...

Strauss was much older than Hindemith. Hindemith's wife Gertrud, was in fact Jewish. She certainly would have been arrested and transferred to a concentration camp, quite possibly with her husband.

(sanjosemike), please continue to next post...

[sanjosemike]

Burtsbees2 continued:

I have tried to research the "Denazification" of R. Strauss, but have not had much data on this. There are some books written about Denazification after WWII, and probably there is information about Strauss on that.

Unquestionably Strauss was "defensive" on the entire issue. He did apparently openly accept Hitler.

Like everyone else, he did have a choice.

Perhaps he was a sonofabitch. I don't know. Furtwangler also made his bed with Nazis.

sanjosemike

[burtsbees2]

you clearly are well-versed enough in the historical context of this composer that I might have expected you to be more considerate before turning this transcendent piece of music into a platform for right-wing politics. as we both would prefer that the state of nazi germany were disassociated from strauss, i would rather no one would continue to use these sublime aspects of western civilization to alienate any group of people, whatever the reason.

[sanjosemike]

burtsbees2:

My concern for the continued existence of Western Art follows a logical progression, much of which comes from extensive travel in Muslim Countries, and seeing it firsthand.

It's not a matter of being "right winged." It's a matter of most artists and those who love this tradition not really understanding the threat we have to Western Civilization by Islam.

I respectfully urge you to review that issue in more detail. It's easy to be put off by my ranting, I know,(continued)

[ligiamonteiro0]

Their voice work great together. I don't usually like Kasarova, but she's performing an excellent Octavian!

[ligiamonteiro0]

Their voices work great together. I don

[endique79]

fantastic...innovative...progr­essive? incredible :-)

[SDCmorg]

It is, ay? :o) I like it more every time I re-watch this show. It is just conceptually staged enough that I can divorce it from the 'turn of the Century Vienna tradition.' It works within its own frame and these gals and Moll act so well. An engaging show! :o)

[patriciansrule]

SSSHHHHHHHHHUSH!!!!!!!!! I,can not hear with all that BLITHERING going on!!!!!...thank you.

[latraviata1853]

Sophie here makes the high notes sound not-so-high, which might be a good thing but I don't really like it. Octavian also looks nothing like a boy.

[aldebussy]

Strauss had a thing for high voices! LOL!

Thanks God he did! He was, imho, the most genius of all opera writers.

His music is just like taking a trip to the clouds and the skies to a heavenly castle (like the one in Jack and the Beanstalk) and just spending sometime. But most his music ends in quiet fading codas, which means, "The dream's over! Wake up! You have a history test tomorrow and you're gonna actually fail this one if you don't study till 1:00 am."

Oh God! I'm screwed.Gotta go

[ltyr2001]

I wonder if Octavio's part couldn't have been simply sung by a tenor an octave lower.

He could have sung the 'girl parts' in falsetto.

Just a thought...

[SDCmorg]

Ack. What would that do to the duets and the trio, though? I think Strauss wrote him as a trouser role precisely because the 3-soprani trio was the first thing he composed for this opera. It'd be something like that novelty of a tenor Romeo that Abbado did to Bellini in the 80's. Solo music was fine... ensembles were a mess.

[meriomeri]

If you think about things aurally, the difference in an octave and a half step (Soprano and Tenor) and simply a half step (Soprano and Mezzo) are so different. The dissonances are much more powerful when they are so close together.

[libbystar38]

Why is everyone so worried about pants roles? Did you see the recent production of Hansel and Gretel at the met? Hansel was played by a woman (like always) and the witch was played by a man. It was amazing! Only in opera can you pull something like that off:)

[SDCmorg]

It isn't so much the matter of real gender or cross-dressing on-stage, really. It's how the voice would fit in to the rest of the music. Dropping a full octave would really mess up ensemble numbers because the relationship with the other voices is all of the sudden imbalanced.

[olympicfreak678]

Have you ever seen the sheet music? It is EXTREMLEY complex. Strauss was famous for pushing tonality to its limit. One octave and everything's screwed. Everything was done with precision. If the orchestra matched, it wouldn't be as bad, but that's how he pushed tonality. The singers and orchestra are compltley different.

[ThePOLIFEMO]

Muy sr @ SDCmorg / ra mio / a hablelo Usted Con strauss Que escribio poara voces Que queria esto.claro Que No necesariamente Tiene Por Que Pensar Igual que strauss A mi me es Suficiente la Calidad de la Voz Cosa Que jamas pondre en Duda de Veselina kassarova.

[ThePOLIFEMO]

@ SDCmorg

[ThePOLIFEMO]

@ SDCmorg 

[trousermezzo]

Falsetto wouldn't carry through the orchestra and the soprano voices...

[dinooney]

This piece came out as an extract in the transposition part of music theory for ABRSM Grade 5 Piano 2008.

[godlovesyou333]

What a great voice! I'm suprised I've never heard of her!

[1000arabella]

Richard Strauss Musik ist wie ein Gruß vom Himmel !!

[nnarten]

i'm also a big fan of hartelius. she is just great. beautiful voice, beautiful actress

[burtsbees2]

malin hartelius is my new favorite opera start. she's simply masterful in every role i've seen her in; here, as costanza in die entfuhrung, and as pamina in die zauberfloete

[DivaDeb1234]

Who is that weird looking pirate in the back. ? Yikes.

[SDCmorg]

It's Octavian's valet... apparently has been in the family since the founding of Austria... (just kidding). It's actually a rather young ballet dancer made to look like his dead and buried great-great-grandpa... apparently. When he breaks into a solo dance later, he makes me think of Sainte-Saens' Danse Macabre!

[LusciousSoup]

I think Malin Hartelius is an absolutely MARVELOUS Sofia. The high note was absolutely astounding. And, regardless of what the majority may say, Kasarova was a great Octavio. As Baedeker2007 had said, she has this humor that brings something more to this character.

[SDCmorg]

Yup, too bad no clip of Kasarova in Mariandl scenes here. She's one of the funniest around. A real gifted physical comedian. I wish someone could post her Helene (from La Belle Helene). :o) And Malin Hartelius really ought to be more famous than she is. She deserves it. :o)

[LilliVanessi]

I like Hartelis, but I dislike Kasarova. I don't know what "knödeln" is in English :D - but that is what she does! Her voice sounds too "thick" in the lower parts. Fabulous Octavians: Brigitte Fassbaender, Susanne Mentzer, Anne-Sophie von Otter.

[tenormcgee]

i actually disagree with the von Otter selection. In her performance at the Met Gala, and from what many have said from live performances, she's easily lost when not by herself.

[LilliVanessi]

I have only seen her live once, and that was a recital (she was fabulous). So I lack the competence to judge this. I have only seen her as Octavian on TV and she was great.

[olympicfreak678]

Her(Kasarova) voice is known for being rich and dark. I thought it was ugly, too, at first when I heard her SEsto. But after hearing it for a while, they became AWSOME. She can do SO MANY things with that chest!!! OMG!! WHen she goes downstairs she does it so well!! In some of her SEsto's she does a coloratura into the chest register!!! SHe's amazing and a GREAT actress!!

[crazymezzosoprano]

kasarova is handsome here like everytime.she is amazing opera diva.(expesially for mezzo sopranos)

[baltsa1]

Dear baedeker2007, its very good to hear the opinion of an educated person. I think that we all are free for like or dislike something but as you can see in this page, there are not so educated people to change experiences. I respect your taste and thanks god there are people in the world with diferent tastes. Best regards for you!

[baltsa1]

No coments for u because u didnt read my message. And buy the way, there are better mezzi to sing the part nowadays, like Garanca, who is a real actress on the stage. Best regards.

[baedeker2007]

I agree that Garanca is a fabulous singer and actress, but Kasarova makes a wonderful Oktavian, for my taste...she has a real sense of humor and timing that, along with her marvellous voice, makes this a pleasure to watch. The clips PPanncho has posted make me want to buy this whole video.

[baltsa1]

sounds idiot the way she acts as Octavian. And what about that horrible tecnic that makes her jump all the time, even for singing easy parts....didn´t like, def.

[SDCmorg]

I'd say the idiotic thing is for someone to say that Oktavian is an easy singing part... Ha..ha.. Let's see you do it!

There is hardly anything more pathetic than people who aren't good enough to have a big career going around dissing others who do have what it takes.

[renethel]

lovely voices!

[aroasorin]

picture before sound, very annoying

[SDCmorg]

She is plenty elegant enough. This isn't a traditional staging of the thing.

[Johnny1206]

Kasarova is not elegant enough to sing this role!

[alexnodar]

Wow ...amazing voices !!!!