Richard Stauss - Der Rosenkavalier - The Royal Opera Covent Ga

A must-have Rosenkavalier!
My local opera group just viewed this fabulous production of Der Rosenkavalier. Everyone left in a dream-like state. What an amazing production it was! The staging at Covent Garden went way over the top in keeping as close to the times in both elaborate costumes and opulant sets. Kiri Te Kanawa's role as the Marschallin was spectacular -- smooth, sensitive and charming. She was absolutely exquisite. Octavian, played by mezzo-soprano Anne Howells, was also delightful. But the surprise came with Aage Haugland as Baron von Ochs. He was absolutely outrageous. His fabulous bass voice and acting skills really stole the show. There could not have been a more perfect melding of Strauss' glorious lush music, superb singing, believable acting and wonderful staging. I give this performance 5 stars without question. Add it to your music library.

Very Good
I have watched outher performances of the Rosen Kavalier and this is my favorite. Kirite is wonderful as we seeing her "aging" thru the performance is amazing and display her professionalism. Solti -as always- is wonderful and I could just seat and listen to the music. Thanks.

Superb singing-acting
If you're looking for one video ROSENKAVALIER I bet this is the one. (Unless you're a die-hard Eliz. Schwarzkopf groupie.) It's very unusual to get a cast like this with four born-for-their-parts singing actors and zero weaknesses. ALL the minor actors reward close observation. Valzacchi and Anina are as interesting in their way as the principals. (Valzacchi is played by the British celebrity tenor Robert Tear.) Watch the Italian Singer's pantomime argument with his accompanist and his vocal competition with Ochs. The actual singer (Dennis O'Neal) is not Italian but is a Verdi superstar. The late Aage Haugland is the best actor I have ever seen as Ochs (including Kurt Moll and Otto Edelmann). He really gets his character's special blend of vulgarity and innocence across. He can make his eyes twinkle when he smiles, like a giant baby, and put the smile into his voice. Vocally his sub-woofer is a little pinched but his overall bigness and mastery of relaxed bellowing technique more than make up for it. (He was well-known as Hagen and Ivan Khovansky and also played Klingsor.) The women are great too. Kiri Te Kanawa's Feldmarschallin is a major MILF and Barbara Bonney is as pert and sexy as a Bond girl. Anne Howells is totally believable as a teenage boy and very earnest. All three have excellent musical intelligence and technique. The differences in voice types enhance the ensembles. Solti's conducting is brisk and refreshing. The sets and costumes are traditional and gorgeous. The camerawork is great. Der Rosenkavalier was one of the first operas I learned and I've heard it and seen it a fair number of times and this is definitely the most satisfying total Rosenkavalier experience I've had if you discount the special pleasure of being at a live performance.

A superb Der Rosenkavalier
Several times during this Rosenkavalier I was brought to tears by the sheer beatuy of the cast and production. Just gorgeous!

Awesome
Fantastic singing from all of the cast; they are first-rate. Te Kanawa OWNS the Marschallin character, and Howells is good as Octavian. Barbara Bonney is a spectacular Sophie, and Haugland is perfect as Ochs. My only caution is that the audio quality is not fabulous--you can hear the prompter when you listen with headphones.