This was one of the best casts I have ever heard in this opera, and I've heard a few. Elizabeth Schwarzkoph at the Old Met, Regine Crespin at the new. Evelyn Lear, Cheryl Studer- I could go on and on. Tonight's singers could rival any of these.
The Marshallin was sung by Amanda Majeski, who has a perfect Strauss voice: sensuous, limpid, golden. Able to cover the wide ranging role with beauty and ease. Here is a great Strauss singer.
Equally fine was the Octavian of Alice Coote. Her large, rich voice commanded the difficult role with ease. She is a little short for Octavian, but anyone who can sing like this can be any height she chooses.
Matthew Rose was a fine Baron Ochs. He could reach the top and bottom (low E) of the role without seeming to try and was very funny in the part.
Sophie was sung by Christina Landshamer, who had the requisite float for this very high role and a lovely sound.
All of the other roles were very well sung and the orchestra, under Edward Gardner, was superb in this glorious score. The orchestration is a marvel.
My late, dear friend Dorothy Fee, told me that Vittorio Giannini had worked under Strauss. Dorothy studied composition with Vittorio and was a close friend. Vittorio, whom I knew slightly, said he learned as much about orchestration playing Skat with Strauss as in lessons. His opera The Taming of the Shrew bears this out.
The sets, 24 years old, don't quite come up to the Met but Act 1 was especially beautiful. The Met stage is much larger and they have equipment to move scenery around that Chicago Lyric is trying to obtain through a major fund drive.
In 1999 I presented three of my wonderful students, Judith Gray, Janet Brown, and Barbara Rearick in recital in Weil Hall at Carnegie all. It was titled Love, Women, and Song. Our final selection was the great Trio from Der Rosenkavalier and these fine singers sang it beautifully. This incredible piece was going through my head all night long and is still there this morning.
Bravi to a sensation cast and production of my favorite opera!
