Semperoper Dresden :Strauss-Hofmannsthal Der Rosenkavalier 7-XII -2014

If I had my last card to play in this game of life, I will ask for another go at this temple of music quite far from my native South of France.

I will also ask for another evening with Anja Harteros in a lead role like The Marschallin, (Marie-Thérèse, or Rési).  I could watch her and listen to her again from a good spot in this well adorned house, with fantastic acoustics.  She gave me more than what I have always loved to listen to in this role from my cds, which include Lucia Popp and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

I will also ask for a very special conductor who can find in this Strauss scores the striking boisterous rhythms which reminded me of 'l'amour des trois oranges' at act III first part at the inn...with so much fun on stage and in the orchestra, and finds the intimate fragile glissendo of a chamber orchestra for autumnal Marschallin's  awareness  on her woman's life.
 As for the waltz which runs through the scores I only want to listen to that one I heard conducted there at the Semperoper by Christian Thielemann, because it is really very different from all the ones I know and I suddenly realised his must be the real one.  I was moved by the orchestra all through this performance on Sunday.
Then, as a very special treat, I would like the first violin and the harpist to stay at the first interval and rehearse for me like they both did on that Sunday dec 7  when I was there. The sound of the first violin alone in the pit when the harpist left, is unforgettable.
The baron Ochs -Peter Rose was not only funny like Falstaff,  he was also terribly witty and touching when energically scolded by his cousin Anja Harteros-Marie-thérèse, very authoritative in her position of Marschallin,  who had to tell him more than twice   that 'la comedia est finita'.
His low notes were splendid, he is a real singing bass not pretending  and transforming some parts in parlendo. He is the  best  Ochs I  have ever watched.
 Sophie-Christiane Karg was juvenile looking, pretty and light, sounded like an angel and matched  the two women voices at the heavenly trio. As for Octavian- Sophie Koch:  she was elegant, funny, touching, she surprised me in this role with splendid  harmonics I was not able to appreciate when she sang Charlotte. She makes you believe both her passion for Marie-Thérèse and her love at first sight for  Sophie. She masters this role in every corner of it and is at ease in this setting, like all the others, as it is pleasant with lots of action and people on stage, with elegant costumes ranging from modern to pre-first war ones. Among the Marschallin's open court there was a couple of carlins I think and I could not stop watching them, while le coiffeur was combing Anja's real hair to make a stylish bun adorned with a shining hair clip (which I noticed she was wearing no more when she appeared for her monologue at the end of the act,  may be she found it too flashy!). The Italian tenor (young Korean artist Yosep Kang) did not take the mickey out of the Italian singer, he gave a true serenade with top voice! I noticed the crowd was  suddenly motionless when the Italian singer started, in fascination, just like in my Fair lady at the race course... I loved this passage. The italian couple was also a  team of smashing actors and singers.  I was amused to see them pretending to be window-cleaners and  in fact spying on the young couple and getting evidence of their love by taking photos.. That was fun like it was planned to be 'comedia' by both Strauss and Hofmannsthal. This staging  is full of  funny tricks like this. The libretto has also French sayings which 'tombent à pic' and are very tasty...I loved the ones sung by Anja!
Now I only feel a kind of melancholy as I try to hear Anja Harteros 's long melodious phrases like she is the only one to master at the end of act III, when she reaches real high notes so naturally. Her musicality is so moving...always.  It is so difficult to keep in memory... it is beyond words.
That is why I went on this trip to Dresden, and would like another card to bet for ... another go....

It was

Christamssy all around Dresden...and Frauenkirche. (where I spent my evening of arrival).