The charms of ‘Der Rosenkavalier’

Young Chang

If she were stranded on a lonely island and could only have one opera

for the rest of her life, soprano Helen Donath says she’d take Richard

Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier.”

It’s an opera with depth, in her opinion. One that can move you to

love it, hate it, love it again, and then perhaps love it even more.

“There are pieces of music that really move your soul,” said the

internationally known singer. “And this is a piece, actually, of

literature that can grow with you.”

The Texan-born performer, who has sung the principal role of the

Marschallin before, says she can never get tired of going on stage for

what she calls “a gem of an opera.”

Donath will alternate with New York City Opera star Elizabeth Holleque

singing the Marschallin -- whose name is Princess von Werdenberg -- for

Opera Pacific’s first Strauss production to run Tuesday through April 8

at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The show will be sung in

German, with English supertitles provided.

Jay Lesenger, whose credits include “The Magic Flute,” “Madame

Butterfly” and “Carmen,” among about 30 other productions, directs the

show for the second time.

“The music is so extraordinary,” he said. “And [the opera] has one of

the greatest librettos of all operas. It’s a piece that encompasses all

that opera is about.”

The Marschallin, a middle-aged German woman of the 1700s, is the focus

of what could be called a romantic comedy. She and her much younger lover

Octavian are carried through a comedic story rife with elements of

disguise and intrigue. The ending -- though the two don’t end up together

-- is a happy one. But Donath recommends visitors read the text before

watching the show.

“There is deeply philosophical work going on here,” she said.

Lesenger says it’s a challenging opera -- one that should not be taken

on lightly. The large cast, the dense libretto, the emotionally and

intellectually provoking music -- these require “great artists,” he said.

Donath agrees, saying the production renders her in awe.

“And dumbfounded, by the librettist -- that he should [write] a text

so close to a woman’s heart at that time . . . We women didn’t amount to

much then,” said the performer, whose credits include “Le Nozze di

Figaro,” “Fidelio,” “Turn of the Screw,” “Die Fledermaus,” “Cosi fan

Tutte,” “La Boheme,” and concert collaborations with various American

orchestras.

The self-proclaimed, incurably positive and happy woman says the

libretto for “Rosenkavalier” is such that even she can empathize with it,

despite its realistic content.

“Every time I sing it, something that happened in my life enriches the

piece,” Donath said.

Lesenger welcomes this process of “continual discovery.” He says

sitting in the audience during opening nights is never a nerve-racking

experience for him. While other directors may pace the halls, he

considers the opportunity his “dessert.”

“As long as nobody’s sick and [the cast] is not uncomfortable, it will

be what it is,” he said.

FYI

WHAT: ‘Der Rosenkavalier’

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m.

April 8.

WHERE: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

COST: $29-$107

CALL: (714) 740-7878