A Woman Playing A Man Playing A Woman

Richard Strauss' 1911 Der Rosenkavalier is one opera with a performance tradition that often startles those stumbling onto it for the first time. The story is simple enough--the middle-aged Marschallin, Princess of Werderberg, has taken advantage of her husband's absence to spend the night with her young lover, Octavian. Octavian eventually falls for a woman closer to his own age, but one who's engaged to the Marschallin's cousin. In the course of subterfuge, Octavian must masquerade as a maid. The rub? Strauss wrote the part of Octavian to be performed by a mezzo-soprano.

PBS (ETP in Knoxville) reprises its broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera's Der Rosenkavalier on this coming Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. Renée Fleming appears as Marschallin and Susan Graham appears as Octavian in this excellent production...a good way to spend a hot, humid afternoon.

Alan Sherrod serves up a big plate of nourishing commentary on the Knoxville classical music and fine arts scene.