Product: Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier [VHS] (1994)
Rating: 5.0
"a Magical Moment to Cherish"
(sung in German, with subtitles in German, English, French, and Chinese)Der Rosenkavalier (the Cavalier of the Rose) can entertain you on various levels.First, there is the heavenly, ethereal music which is almost too beautiful.Second, there is a delightful sense of humor--a bag of tricks with surprises for nearly all of the main characters.Third, there is romance. Although several of the characters are "in love," on different levels, the musical capture of the exquisite moment of "love at first sight" between Sophie and Octavian is one of those magical moments to cherish.Fourth, the camera-work is the best ever recorded. You can see & feel Sophie's and Octavian's moment of falliing in love.Fifth, as if all the great entertainment were not enough, Richard Strauss has given us a moral lesson: While the Field Marshall's wife has contempt for her cousin, the lecherous Baron, she realizes that she has been little better, as she has used her imperial position to take advantage of more than one young officer. She sees herself in the mirror, and decides to start doing the right (truly loving) thing--she gives up her current lover so that he can be happy (an almost motherly love?). She has finally learned to love him enough to let go of him.If you're an old friend of Der Rosenkavalier, you'll enjoy Carlos Kleiber's loving touch. Barbara Bonney is a perfect, naive, sweet Sophie. Kurt Moll is the quintessential Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau.If you're new to Rosenkavalier, prepare yourself for a sumptuous feast of musical and theatrical delights!