Sena Jurinac - 90th Birthday Tribute VII: From Octavian to the Marschallin (1955, 1969)

The great Croatian soprano Sena Jurinac (b. 24 October 1921) celebrates her 90th birthday next month. In order to celebrate her outstanding achievements in opera and lieder, seven videos of her live performances/radio broadcasts will be presented.

This seventh and final instalment features her in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, an operatic masterpiece that held an important and even paramount place throghout her entire career. She sang the title role of Octavian (The Knight of the Rose) right from the beginning of her stage career in 1945 until the mid 1960s, and then graduated to the role of Der Feldmarschallin from the mid 1960s onwards up to the very end of her career. It was in the role of the Marschallin that she bade farewell to the operatic stage on 29 November 1982 at the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera).

This video showcases her 'graduation' from Octavian to the Marschallin over a decade.

We begin with Octavian's final duo with Sophie, 'Ist ein Traum, kann nicht wirklich sein' (Act 3), coming from a live performance of the opera on 16 November 1955 during the opening season at the reconstructed and reopened postwar Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera) conducted by the great German maestro Hans Knappertsbusch. This was one of Jurinac's major appearances as Octavian. Hilde Güden partners her as Sophie. Maria Reining as the Marschallin and Alfred Poell as Herr von Faninal appear briefly in this excerpt.

This is followed by key excerpts from Jurinac's performance as the Marschallin at the Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, on 23 September 1969, coonducted by Erich Leinsdorf:

(1) Da geht er hin (Marschallin's monologue, Act 1)

(2) Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding (Marschallin's farewell to Octavian, Act 1)

(3) Trio, Act 3 (with Christa Ludwig as Octavian and Sylvia Geszty as Sophie)

Last but not least, my warm appreciations to George@opertutto for so kindly sharing from his collection rare photos of Jurinac in Marschallin's full regalia, which are featured in the video.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sena
• Jurinac
• 90th
• Birthday
• Tribute
• VII
• Rosenkavalier
• 1955
• 1969

[1sumiresan2]

Das war halt noch ein Octacian, im Gegensatz zu den jetzt so hochgejubelten.

Ebenfalls die Stimme von Hilde Güden ist unvergesslich. Auch Sena`s Marschallin ist unvergessen. Überhaupt ist der Rosenkavalier eine der größten Opern und der Text ist so weise und passt auf jede Lebenssituation.

[opertutto]

Tim, What an extraordinarily lovely tribute to Sena Jurinac, beautifully crafted, as usual. Excellent sounding recordings! I am very moved to have this souvenir, especially since I heard her Marschallin in Wien. George

[rawdonqueen]

I have admired Jurinac since I bought my first Marriage of Figaro recording, and heard her Cherubino. I am delighted to learn that she is still alive.

[schlusnus]

I well remember her Der Rosen: she was the #1 artist in that particular recdg:

Of course the 1933 one is just heaven. Thanks and happy 90th many more.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

Bravp Tim for your first class tributes to this great soprano. She was of course the definitive Octavian, convincingly boyish and superb vocally.