Rise Stevens as the man-woman Octavian, and Emanuel List as the arrogant and vulgar Baron Ochs, easily ran off with the first honors in last night’s performance.
Miss Stevens is rapidly accruing impressive assets in both singing and acting departments, for her Octavian was all flourish and gallantry as a man, and simulated a delightfully ungainly boyishness in the female impersonation – even as to voice. List was properly repulsive and ridiculous, and he gave the old lecher a flavorsome characterization.
But credits, too, must go to Irene Jessner as the princess who is under the melancholy spell of growing old and who sadly and selflessly relinquishes her shining young lover to Sophie. And the Sophie had a demure charm and fine flute tones in the performance of Nadine Conner. These three were splendid in the last act’s trio, where Strauss’ chattering music rises to the most eloquent and moving lyricism of the play. . . .
The sets were not distinguished, and the lighting was standard.
Born on this day in 1941 soprano Ghena Dimitrova.
Happy 89th birthday mezzo-soprano Jane Berbié.Born on this day in 1924 soprano Mimi Benzell.
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.
