LOVE, SEX AND AGING

Disguises, duels. and duets are the order of the day in Richard Strauss' magnificently extravagant Der Rosenkavalier, or the Rose-bearer, being the name of an engagement tradition in mid eighteenth century Vienna. The task is simple, elect someone to deliver to your beloved a silver rose as proof of your love and reap the reward in matrimony. But woe-betide you if you chose the wrong man, especially if he is younger, more handsome and altogether a lot more desirable than you...

Comic and romantic, Der Rosenkavlier is also a poignant and bitter-sweet exploration of the passage of time and the effect on our hearts.

THE STORY OF DER ROSENKAVALIER

Concerning the older and alluring Marschallian, a grand princess who finds solace in the arms of her much younger lover Octavian until the entrance of her hot-blooded and churlish cousin Baron Ochs. Setting his sights on wealthy and beautiful merchant's daughter Sophie, he enlists the help of Octavian as his rose bearer. Of course, once they set eyes on each other, all is lost for both Marshchallian and Baron Ochs. The former accepts her fate elegantly, the latter, well, not so much...

Full of famous waltzes and instantly recognisable arias, the English National Opera presents this wildly delicious new production from Robert Carsen, with two starry casts including Renee Fleming, Alice Coote and Rachel Willis-Sorensen, conducted by Andris Nelsons.