Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier opera to libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Directed 2009 by Herbert Wernicke at Baden-Baden. Stars Renée Fleming (Feldmarschallin), Franz Hawlata (Baron Ochs), Sophie Koch (Octavia), Franz Grundheber (Herr von Faninal), Diana Damrau (Sophie), Irmgard Vilsmaier (Marianne Leitmetzerin), Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke (Valzacchi), Jane Henschel (Annina), Jonas Kaufmann (Singer), Uli Kirsch (Pierrot), Andreas Hörl (Police Commissioner), Wilfried Gahmlich (Feldmarschallin's majordomo), Lynton Black (Notary), Jörg Schneider (Faninal's majordomo/innkeeper/animal vendor), Bernarda Bobro (Milliner), Catherine Veillerobe, Angela Rudolf, Nina Amon (Three noble orphans), Michael Schwendinger (Porter), Manfred Schwaiger (Impresario), Ilker Arcayürek, Jens Waldig, Manfred Hanakam, Michael Schwendinger (Four footmen), Ilker Arcayürek, Manfred Hanakam, Jörg Espenkott, Max Sahlinger (Four waiters), Andreas Maurer, Manfred Schwaiger, Jörg Espenkott, Christian Lusser, Michael Schwendinger, Kiril Chobanov, Akos Banlaky, Jens Waldig (Eight Lerchenauer retainers) and René Schumann (Leopold). Christian Thielemann conducts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Chor Wien (Chorus Director Walter Zeh), and the Theaterkinderchor am Helmholtz-Gymnasium Karlsruhe (Chorus Director Waltraud Kutz). Sets and costumes by Herbert Wernicke; lighting by Werner Breitenfelder. Directed for TV by Brian Large. Sung in German. Released 2009, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Few opera productions will have such a great lineup of stars as this.