Talk:Der Rosenkavalier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article falls within the scope of the Opera WikiProject, a collaboration to develop Wikipedia articles on operas and opera terminology, opera composers and librettists, singers, designers, directors and managers, companies and houses, publications and recordings. The project talk page is a place to discuss issues, identify areas of neglect and exchange ideas. New members are very welcome!
Start This article has been rated as Start-class on the quality scale.

Contents

[edit] Translation

This page was translated after a request was placed on Wikipedia:Translation into English. Here is the original request:

  • Article: de:Der Rosenkavalier
  • Corresponding English-language article: Der Rosenkavalier
  • Worth doing because: One of this notable composer's most popular works (although more frequently performed in concert form in the US)
  • Originally Requested by: Ellsworth 18:58, 6 May 2004 (UTC)
  • Status: Complete. I omitted the 'notable performances' section for now, as I don't know how relevant they are to an English-speaking audience --HappyDog 00:29, 7 May 2004 (UTC)
  • Other notes: If the synposis linked to in the German article is public domain, perhaps that could be made part of the English article.
    In the meantime I have linked to an english synopsis. --HappyDog

FYI: this is currently being performed at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. --HappyDog 00:29, 7 May 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Marschallin

I found a definition of the term "Marschallin" (the wife of a Field Marshal) on the net and added it to the article. It's something about this opera that has always puzzled me. - The Unknown Wikipedia Guy

Is "Marie Therese" really the Marschallin's name, or is that just Octavian's pet name for her? She isn't given that name in my copy of the score. Herbivore 23:03, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

It's her real name. Octavian's pet name for her, used during Act 1, is "Bichette" (make of that what you will!). Her pet name for him is "Quinquin". --GuillaumeTell 17:55, 29 October 2006 (UTC)


French: 'Bichette' comes from 'biche', a doe, i.e., a little doe. It is a typical old fashioned term of endearment. People of the Marschalin and Octavien's class would have mixed French and German.

[edit] The Silver Rose

The silver rose that is presented by octavian to sophie as a signal of their intended marriage - is this a tradition? I cannot find any references to earlier than the opera, and I wondered if the idea was created for the opera, or if it existed beforehand. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Gaffermonkey (talk • contribs) 17:16, 6 February 2007 (UTC).

I've read that it was Hofmannsthal's invention -- but that it was so convincing that afterwards people sincerely claimed that that it was an actual tradition. Can't remember where I read this, so it probably can't go in the article. Herbivore 21:33, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

I've read that too. Also perhaps worth noting somewhere is Strauss's use of the Viennese-type waltz in the opera, which is anachronistic (the waltz became popular in the nineteenth century) and which some have said was a deliberate joke on the composer's part bearing in mind the setting (Vienna) and his waltz-composing (unrelated) namesakes. CW, 5 April 2007

[edit] Trivia

I think the librettist intended the Marshallin's name to be Maria Teresa, the same as the Empress. Octavian calls her Therese because using Frenchified names was considered chic at that time in history. (just as, in WAR AND PEACE, the central Russian character likes to be called Pierre rather than Pyotr)

What is the source of the statement that the opera is usually done in concert form in the U.S.? I have never heard of a concert performance of this opera.

Some mention ought to be made of Strauss's unusual decision to write the "male" lead (Octavian) for a female singer; this is the "trouser role" tradition taken to an extreme. CharlesTheBold 04:44, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

I am pondering an inobtrusive way to work it in, if only for the purpose of pointing out the double-cross-dressing. The obvious (when witnessed) physical comedy of a (well-corsetted) female mezzo-soprano playing a young man who in turn is disguised as a female chambermaid - to my mind - deserves a fair mention because it would not be obvious to anyone who had not seen a production of the opera. --MuséeRouge (talk) 11:19, 24 November 2007 (UTC)