Back to the stars: Cosmic “Rosenkavalier” in Salzburg
The problem with “Rosenkavalier” is the opulent, often overloaded and indecisive score, which oscillates between comedy and self-pity. Conducting both equally is extremely difficult, especially since vast amounts of text have to be worked through, sometimes in dialect. Little of it was understandable. The conductor Leslie Suganandarajah, who was born in Sri Lanka, clearly opted for the melancholic side, for a more relaxed tempo and pathetic volume. That fits perfectly with the staging, makes the “Rosenkavalier”, but also cosmically difficult. Still, there was laughter here and there.
Bon jour, sadness!
Among the soloists was Magdalena Anna Hofmann, a surprising youthful marshal with a rather easy-going charisma, and Martin Summer as the carefree Ochs von Lerchenau, a very easy-going womanizer who would also pass for Super-Daddy. Both role portraits were also vocally of kitsch-free freshness. Sophie Harmsen in the breeches role of the title character Octavian turned out to be a shadowed lover according to the typical teenage motto: Bonjour, Tristesse! Elizabeth Sutphen as the smitten Sophie was also quite mournful.
All in all, a sentimental journey through the vastness of space, towards the black hole of existence. But beyond the physically explainable, as we know, love is just beginning.
Again on October 5th, 7th and 9th at the Felsenreitschule Salzburg, further dates.