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Front center: Ying Fang (Sophie), Back Center: Paula Murrihy (Octavian), photo by Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera

Der Rosenkavalier 2024

July 20 - August 15, 2024

Love. Lust. Nostalgia.

In the decadent world of Vienna, a story of romantic entanglements unfolds between a youthful nobleman, his mature mistress, and a young woman engaged to be married to an older Baron. Who is to give in or give up their heart?

Bruno Ravella directs this elegant new production set in the 1950s in a co-production with Garsington Opera and the Irish National Opera. Making her SFO conducting debut will be Karina Canellakis. Former apprentices Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Paula Murrihy are the Marschallin and Octavian. Ying Fang returns to Santa Fe to sing Sophie.


Amar. Lujuria. Nostalgia.

En el decadente mundo vienés se desarrolla esta historia de enredos románticos entre un joven aristócrata, su amante entrada en años y una joven prometida con un viejo barón. ¿Quién sucumbirá a sus pasiones y quién desistirá en el intento?

La dirección de esta nueva y elegante producción, ambientada en los años cincuenta del siglo veinte y coproducida con la Ópera de Garsington y con la Ópera Nacional de Irlanda, corre a cargo de Bruno Ravella. Karina Canellakis se encarga de la dirección musical en el que es su debut en la Ópera de Santa Fe. Las antiguas integrantes de nuestro programa para jóvenes talentos Rachel Willis-Sørensen y Paula Murrihy vuelven a la Ópera de Santa Fe en los papeles de la Mariscala y Octavian, respectivamente, y Ying Fang vuelve a Santa Fe como Sophie.

Partial View Seating
Tickets for Partial View Seats are available at a discount. Please call the Box Office at 505-986-5900.
Music By
Richard Strauss
Libretto By
Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Co-production with
Garsington Opera and Irish National Opera
Sung In
German
Instant Translation Screen
English and Spanish
The 2024 Season is dedicated to the memory of
Richard Gaddes, Former General Director of the Santa Fe Opera
Production support generously provided by
The Avenir Production Fund
The Estate of James R. Seitz, Jr.
The Jane & Arthur T. Stieren, Jr. Endowment Fund in memory of Arthur T. Stieren, Jr.
Additional artistic support provided by
Miranda & David Lind
The performances of Karina Canellakis are supported by
Susan Esco Chandler and Alfred D. Chandler
The performances of Rachel Willis-Sørensen are supported by
The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
The performances of Matthew Rose are supported by
The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
The performances of Ying Fang are supported by
The Peter B. Frank Principal Artist Fund
The performances of Megan Marino are supported by
Brooke Suzanne Gray
The performances of Paula Murrihy are supported by
Friends of Richard Strauss Operas
Run Time
Approximately 4 hours 4 minutes; includes a 20-minute intermission and a 35-minute intermission
Please be Advised
This production contains depictions of violence including sexual assault.

Synopsis

Act I

The Marschallin’s bedroom. The Marschallin, Princess von Werdenberg, and the young Octavian, Count Rofrano, rise regretfully from her bed, where they have spent the night. At a sound in the hallway – perhaps the Marschallin’s husband – Octavian hides and disguises himself as a chambermaid. The Marschallin’s cousin, Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau, enters asking her whether she has given thought to his letter, in which he asked her to choose a Rosenkavalier – Knight of the Rose – to take the customary silver symbol to the woman Ochs has decided to marry, Sophie, the daughter of the very wealthy and recently ennobled Herr von Faninal. She suggests Octavian and shows Ochs his picture. Ochs cannot help but see the resemblance to “Mariandel,” the maid, whom he shamelessly pursues.

The Marschallin holds her morning levée, during which she is addressed by an animal tamer, a dressmaker, three noble orphans, two Italian scandalmongers, and sung to by an Italian tenor. Ochs browbeats the notary into drawing up a marriage contract. Losing his temper, he interrupts the tenor’s song. The Marschallin sends everyone away, but not before Ochs has left her with the silver rose – and engaged the intriguers, Valzacchi and Annina, to secure him an assignation with “Mariandel.” The Marschallin muses on the passing of time.

Octavian returns, dressed as himself, and notes the Marschallin’s melancholy mood. She assures him he will leave her for a younger woman. He naturally protests, and she sends him away. When she realizes they have parted without a goodbye kiss, she sends her lackey after him, but he has already ridden away. She calls her page to take the rose to him.


Alcoba de la Mariscala. La Mariscala, princesa de Werdenberg, y el joven Octavian, conde Rofrano, se levantan con remordimientos de la cama de la Mariscala después de haber pasado la noche juntos. Un ruido proveniente del pasillo (quizás es el esposo de la Mariscala) hace esconderse a Octavian, que decide disfrazarse como una sirvienta. El primo de la Mariscala, el barón Ochs auf Lerchenau, entra preguntándole si ha pensado en la carta que le envió en la que le pedía elegir a un Caballero de la Rosa para llevar el tradicional símbolo de plata – una rosa – a la dama a la que Ochs ha decidido pedir matrimonio. Se trata de Sophie, hija del muy pudiente y recientemente ascendido a aristócrata señor de Faninal. La Mariscala sugiere a Octavian, de quien muestra un retrato al barón Ochs. El barón no puede dejar de ver cuánto se parece Octavian a “Mariandel”, la doncella que él mismo persigue desvergonzadamente.

La Mariscala lleva a cabo su rutina matinal, durante la cual recibe a un domador de animales, a un sombrerero, a tres aristócratas huérfanos y a dos chismosos italianos. Incluso un tenor italiano viene a cantarle. El barón Ochs fuerza a un notario a redactar un contrato matrimonial y, perdiendo los nervios, incluso interrumpe la canción del tenor. La Mariscala despide a todos pero no antes de que el barón le haya dejado la rosa de plata — y de que éste haya persuadido a los conspiradores Valzacchi y Annina para que le procuren una cita secreta con “Mariandel.” La Mariscala reflexiona sobre el paso del tiempo.

Octavian regresa, esta vez vestido como él mismo, y se percata del estado de melancolía en el que se encuentra la Mariscala. Ésta le asegura que él acabará abandonándola por una mujer más joven. Octavian se queja y la Mariscala lo manda salir. Al darse cuenta de que se han despedido sin un beso, envía a un sirviente en busca de él pero Octavian ya ha partido. Manda a un paje llevarle la rosa de plata.

Act II

Faninal’s salon. Sophie waits excitedly with her duenna, Marianne. Octavian brings the rose to Sophie and both are smitten. The real suitor enters and Sophie is appalled by the Baron’s rude manners. Baron Ochs goes into an adjoining room with the notary and Sophie and Octavian agree that she must not marry Ochs. As they move to embrace, they are caught by Valzacchi and Annina, who call for the Baron. Octavian challenges him to a duel and wounds him lightly on the arm, at which Ochs shouts bloody murder.

He is cheered when left to rest with a bandage and Faninal’s wine. Annina returns with a note inviting him to a rendezvous with “Mariandel” that evening. He accepts with delight but does not tip her.


Salón de Faninal. Sophie espera impaciente con su carabina Marianne. Octavian entra y entrega la rosa a Sophie. Ambos se quedan embelesados el uno con el otro. El verdadero pretendiente entra y Sophie se horroriza al ver el comportamiento tan grosero del barón Ochs, el cual se retira con el notario a una habitación contigua. Sophie y Octavian están de acuerdo en que Sophie no debe casarse con él. En el momento de abrazarse, Valzacchi y Annina los ven y llaman inmediatamente al barón. Octavian lo reta a un duelo y termina por herirlo levemente en el brazo. El barón Ochs pone el grito en el cielo.

El barón es reanimado y se le deja reposando con una venda y con vino del propio Faninal. Annina vuelve con una nota para él en la que se le invita a una cita con “Mariandel” esa misma noche. Ochs acepta gustosamente pero no le da propina.

Act III

A room in an inn. Octavian, now helped by Annina and Valzacchi, sets a stageworthy scene for the confounding of Ochs. The Baron and “Mariandel” soon meet for a private supper, but strange figures appear from trap doors and windows, making Ochs think he sees ghosts. Suddenly a woman dressed in mourning bursts from a blind window, claiming to be Ochs’s deserted wife. It is Annina in disguise, followed by a herd of children screaming, “Papa!” The innkeeper and servants rush in. Finally Ochs calls the police, and claims that “Mariandel” is his fiancée Sophie. Faninal arrives, furious, and sends for the real Sophie. At the height of the confusion, the Marschallin appears. The Police Commissary recognizes her – he was once her husband’s orderly–and she easily explains that this was all a farce. She insists that Ochs leave Vienna, and he does, pursued by Annina and the children, the innkeeper and his creditors. Now the Marschallin is left with undecided Octavian and anxious Sophie. The day she predicted has come. Quietly she leaves them alone together.


Habitación de una pensión. Octavian, ayudado ahora por Annina y Valzacchi, trama una situación para exponer al barón Ochs. El barón y “Mariandel” se encuentran para cenar solos pero unas figuras extrañas empiezan a aparecer por las puertas y las ventanas haciendo que Ochs crea que está viendo fantasmas. De repente, una mujer vestida de luto aparece por un ventanal ciego asegurando que es la esposa abandonada del barón. En realidad es Annina disfrazada y acompañada por una multitud de niños gritando “¡papá!” El posadero y los sirvientes se apresuran a entrar. Al final, Ochs llama a la policía y asegura que “Mariandel” es su prometida Sophie. Faninal llega furioso y manda buscar a la verdadera Sophie. En el colmo de la confusión, la Mariscala aparece. El comisario de policía la reconoce (él trabajó como ordenanza de su marido) y la Mariscala explica que todo esto ha sido simplemente una farsa. Insiste en que el barón Ochs abandone Viena. Éste obedece y es seguido por Annina, los niños, el posadero y sus acreedores. La Mariscala se queda sola con el indeciso Octavian y con Sophie, que está visiblemente nerviosa. El día que predijo ha llegado. En silencio, se retira dejándolos solos.

Artists

Rachel Willis Sorensen

Rachel Willis-Sørensen

Soprano

Marschallin

Paula Murrihy headshot

Paula Murrihy

Mezzo-soprano

Octavian

Matthew Rose

Matthew Rose

Bass

Baron Ochs

Ying Fang

Ying Fang

Soprano

Sophie (through August 8)

Liv Redpath

Soprano

Sophie (August 15)

Zachary Nelson headshot

Zachary Nelson

Baritone

Faninal

David Portillo

David Portillo

Tenor

Italian Singer

Gerhard Siegel

Gerhard Siegel

Tenor

Valzacchi

Megan Marino

Megan Marino

Mezzo-Soprano

Annina

Kathryn Henry

Kathryn Henry

Soprano

Marianne Leitmetzerin

Scott Conner

Scott Conner

Bass

Police Commissar

Keith Klein

Keith Klein

Bass-baritone

Notary

Spencer Hamlin

Spencer Hamlin

Tenor

Innkeeper

Wayd Odle

Wayd Odle

Tenor

Marschallin's Major-Domo

Ryan Bryce Johnson

Ryan Bryce Johnson

Tenor

Faninal's Major-Domo

Natasha Isabella Gesto

Natasha Isabella Gesto

Soprano

Dressmaker

Nathan Bowles

Nathan Bowles

Tenor

Animal Tamer

Isobel Anthony

Isobel Anthony

Soprano

Noble Orphan 1

Ashlyn Brown

Ashlyn Brown

Mezzo-soprano

Noble Orphan 2

Christina Grohowski

Christina Grohowski

Mezzo-soprano

Noble Orphan 3

Matthew Goodheart

Matthew Goodheart

Tenor

Lackey 1

Randell McGee

Randell McGee

Baritone

Lackey 2

David Bogaev

David Bogaev

Tenor

Lackey 3

Bernardo Medeiros

Bernardo Medeiros

Baritone

Lackey 4

Garrett Evers

Garrett Evers

Tenor

Waiter 1

Nathan Bowles

Nathan Bowles

Tenor

Waiter 2

Tzvi Bat Asherah

Tzvi Bat Asherah

Bass-baritone

Waiter 3

Drew Comer

Drew Comer

Bass

Waiter 4

Dylan Gregg

Dylan Gregg

Bass-baritone

Boots

Maximilian Moore

Maximilian Moore

Actor

Cupid

Karina Canellakis

Karina Canellakis

Conductor

Bruno Ravella

Bruno Ravella

Director

Gary McCann headshot

Gary McCann

Scenic & Costume Designer

Malcolm Rippeth

Malcolm Rippeth

Lighting Designer

Susanne Sheston headshot

Susanne Sheston

Chorus Master

Video

2024 Season Playlist