This production of Der Rosenkavalier (directed by Stefan Herheim for Staatstheater Stuttgart) looks fascinating:

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/YUQZfId2jkY" width="480" height="295" wmode="transparent" /]

Am Schluss sitzen die Feldmarschallin links, der Faninal rechts in der Loge und schauen milde, verstört, verletzt auf das jugendliche Paar Octavian-Sophie. Sie schicken sich ins Unvermeidliche – sie warten auf den Tod. Andere suchen ihn selbst: Pan an der Rampe schlingt die Splitterreste der silbernen Rose herunter, verblutet zu den für sie symbolhaft stehenden, verschränkten gleißenden Akkorden, die Honeck körperlos starr, eiskalt nebeneinander gesetzt spielen lässt. Ein letztes Zucken zu Strauss’ finalen Scherzotakten besiegelt: Pans Spiel ist aus. Der Sexus tot. [Stuttgareter Zeitung]

According to George Loomis in the New York Times, “bravos easily drowned out a few boos for the production team” for this Rosenkavalier, in contrast to the “essentially traditional Boccanegra” (by Federico Tiezzi, starring Placido Domingo), which “was roundly booed” in Berlin.

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.

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