Salzburg Festival: Der Rosenkavalier

Beneath the surface of its lightly flowing dialogue and sumptuous music, Der Rosenkavalier explores the progress of human relations, both personal and societal. Beginning with the scandalous love affair of young Octavian and the older, yet enchanting Marschallin, the opera examines Octavian's metamorphosis, as youthful entanglements transform into romantic commitment. The Marschallin embodies our wistful nostalgia at the passage of time, serving as a counterpoint to the Octavian's dreamy and impetuous youthful romance. In the world of Der Rosenkavalier, Strauss and his librettist, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, summon a half-imaginary, half-real Vienna of 1740, capturing both the intricacies of aristocratic ceremony and the temporality of human existence.