Der Rosenkavalier, November 29th, 2000

The production is well know being rebroadcast with Te Kanawa recently (in 1983 it was taped I believe). I must say it looks better live than on TV ! The first act and second act are very beautiful and the third adequate.

Cheryl Studer unfortunately does not seem to have recovered from her vocal problems. It must be to her credit that she portrayed the role very well, exactly as Strauss wanted, this Marschallin is not too old and makes very clear Octavian will not be her last lover. She sang some very good pianissimos (specially in Act 3). But the voice seems to have a problem with volume (in the beginning of Act 1 I had problems hearing her) and at the top. In the trio her voice disappeared and in the final phrases of the trio where she has to sing some high notes, Studer did her best but the notes came out not well and strained.

Susanne Mentzer was replacing Vasselina Kasarova. She sang the role well enough and the acting was routine. But her voice in this role lacks penetration and she should be more involved also. In the final duet in Act 3 where she should sing piano, she preferred forte which for me spoils this moment in the score. I heard Anne Sofie von Otter in this role in Vienna and she was superb!

Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz was a routine Sophie and she lacks the true floating notes required for the role (specially in the presentation of the Rose and the final duet in Act 3).

Eric Halfvarson was a routine Ochs also, he has all the low notes but where he should sing piano he resorted to a falsetto.

Marcello Giordani was an excellent Italian singer, a real first-class MET casting.

Alan Opie was a good Fanninal.