[Met Performance] CID:82510



Der Rosenkavalier
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, December 23, 1922 Matinee





Der Rosenkavalier (31)
Richard Strauss | Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Octavian
Maria Jeritza

Princess von Werdenberg (Marschallin)
Florence Easton

Baron Ochs
Paul Bender

Sophie
Elisabeth Rethberg

Faninal
Gustav Schützendorf

Annina
Kathleen Howard

Valzacchi
Angelo Badà

Italian Singer
Orville Harrold

Marianne
Grace Anthony

Mahomet
Virginia Gitchell

Princess' Major-domo
Pietro Audisio

Orphan
Laura Robertson

Orphan
Grace Bradley

Orphan
Henriette Wakefield

Milliner
Muriel Tindal

Animal Vendor
Raffaele Lipparini

Notary
William Gustafson

Leopold
Giordano Paltrinieri

Faninal's Major-domo
Augusto Monti

Innkeeper
George Meader

Police Commissioner
Carl Schlegel


Conductor
Artur Bodanzky







Review 1:

Review of Max Smith in the American

NEW ARTIST SINGS ROLE OF SOPHIE PLEASINGLY

Elizabeth Rethberg, Gatti-Casazza'a Latest Prima Donna, Gives Trying Part in "Der Rosenkavalier" Pleasingly

Elizabeth Rethberg's first appearance here in the role of Sophie added an element of great strength yesterday afternoon in the Metropolitan to the cast of "Der Rosenkavalier," which opera had its second hearing of the season, with Maria Jeritza once more as Octavian, Florence Easton as the Princess, Paul Bender as Baron Ochs, Schützendorf as Von Faninal and Artur Bodanzky, at the baton.

From a vocal point of view, at any rate, the extremely trying part of Faninal's daughter has never been given in a manner so thoroughly satisfying as by Giulio Gatti-Casazza's latest and youngest prima donna. And while her presence lent Sophie a somewhat too matronly appearance for sweet sixteen, Mme. Rethberg enacted the character with becoming simplicity and modesty.

The phenomenal scope of the soprano's voice, so fresh and limpid in the upper register, so mellow and vibrant in the lower, not only lent special eloquence, specifically considered, to the expansive music Richard Strauss has allotted to Sophie - music now of extremely high tessitura yet here and there falling almost into the range of the mezzo - but counted for even more in the vocal ensembles, in the duets with the Rose-bearer, and in the great final terzet.

For once, the wonderfully interlacing polyphony of that extraordinary piece for three women - surely one of the most beautiful achievements Richard Strauss has given to the world - stood forth clearly and plastically. And the finely modulated legato of Elisabeth Rethberg, sustained in warmly expressive cantilena, merged in inspiriting euphony with the voices of Maria Jeritza and Florence Easton over the uplifting orchestral accompaniment as vitalized by Artur Bodanzky.

More need not be said at this time save to remark that Mme. Jeritza's Octavian was even more fascinating than before, that Paul Bender again gave an admirable portrayal of Ochs and that Florence Easton confirmed the excellent impression she had previously made as the Feldmarschallin



Search by season: 1922-23

Search by title: Der Rosenkavalier,



Met careers