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Golden Sounds
'Der Rosenkavalier' in San Diego
impresses MARIA NOCKIN
Composer Richard Strauss (1864-1949) first met poet and dramatist Hugo von Hoffmansthal (1874-1929) at the turn of the twentieth century. In 1903 the composer attended a performance of the playwright's Elektra, which was based on the ancient Greek drama by Sophocles. He was so enchanted with it that he asked Von Hoffmansthal to write an opera libretto for him. Thus, a link was formed between composer and librettist that was to result in: Elektra in 1909, Der Rosenkavalier in 1911, Ariadne auf Naxos in 1912, Die Frau ohne Schatten in 1919, Die Aegiptische Helena in 1927 and Arabella in 1933.
Elektra, the opera, eventually became more popular than the play, which had originally been a major success...
Copyright © 10 April 2011
Maria Nockin,
Arizona USA
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