Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-14
NEW STRAUSS OPERA
AT MET" TONIGHT
First Performance in Philadel-
phia of der Rosenkavalier"
by Composer of "Salome"

Tonight the Metropolitan introduces
Philadelphia to no less a novelty than
a comedy for music" by the composer
OF "Salome" Richard Strauss. The cast
in the Der Rosenkavaller" will match the
piece and the occasion. II includes Mines.
Ober. Hempel, Matfeld and Fornia and
Messrs Goritz, Reiss. We'll and Althouse.
lnasmuch as this is the first performance
of a novel opera In Philadelphia, full
synopsis is given below:
The play begins with a scene in n cham
ber of the Princess Won Werdenbergs
Vienna residence In the early years OF the
reign OF Maria Theresa. The Princess re-
clines on n sofa half embraced by the
ardent Octavian who processes an all
consuming love for her. In the midst OF
this impassioned scene the lovers are dis
trubed by sounds. which the iudiscreet
ones fear are the footsteps and the voice
of the Prince Won Werdenberg, returning
Unexpectedly from hunting Octavian
quickly conceals himself and dons the
dress OF a ladys maid and the anxiety
of the Princess is changed to amusement
when the noisy, boastful and debauched
Baron Ochs of lcrChenau unceremoni-
ously enters the chamber to crave the
assistance OF the Princess in his forth
coming marriage with Sophia Fannal.
| The old rake no sooner sets eyes on
Octavian disguised as a maid than he
makes love to her and invites her TO sup
with him. Meanwhile the Princess. as
was the practice of ladies of quality in
those days, has her morning interview
with her attorney, head cook, millincr,
hairdresser literary adviser animal
dealer, etc.
When Baron t.erchenau departs the
Princess asks OCtavian to be the bearer
OF the silver rose which the bridegroom
left with her to be delivered to the bride.
Sophia, according to the custom of those
| days. The first act ends little sadly
| when the Princess reflects on the day not
distant when her charm shall have faded
and her power to attract her lover shall
have passed away.
In the second act Sophia in her home
| receives the silver rose sent to her by
| the Princess In behalf of Baron Lerche-
nau Unfortunately for the Baron, Oc-
| tavian no sooner delivers the rose, and
| Sophia no sooner receives 1t, than the
| two fail desperately in love with each
| other. In the midst of their new-found
| joy the Baron enters to be formally pre-
| sented to his betrothed, and to have the
| contract duly drawn and signed. His i'm
| pudent manner and loose language dis
| gust Sophia. OCtavian picks a quarrel
| with him. draws his sword and wounds
| him in the hand. Sophia wecps and pro-
| tests she will never marry the Baron.
| Fanlnal fumes and RACES. declaring his
| daughter shall marry the Baron or take
| the veil. for he is socially ambitious and
seeks to link his wealth as merchant
| with an aristoCratic house.
| Disguised as the maid of the Princess he
| makes and keeps an appointment with the
| Baron, at an inn. There so many tricks
| are played ON the Baron that he thinks
| he has lost his reason and Is in mad
house Faces appear in unsuspected
panels; a widow enters claiming him rs
| her husband children rush in and hail
| him as papa: the commissary of po-
| lice arrests him on a charge of leading
| young girls astray; and in his attempt to
clear himself he makes hopeless mud
die of it all and is rightfully disgraccd.
| The merchant, Faninal, is furious to find
| his prospective son-in-law in such n brawl
and Sophia publicly renounces him. The
arrival of the Princess is the signal for
| the police to withdraw and for Octavian
| TO reveal himself to the Baron in his
| usual garments of man.
! And so the play ends. happily, although
| there is a little bitter in the cup of the
| Princess as she sees her lover so soon
| another's prize. The love of the Princess
| for the boy was but a passing romance
| innocent enough, though indiscrcet, but II
supplies the shadow to the lovely picture
of Octavian and Sophia locked in each
others arms when the comedy Is done