Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier ****
Renée Fleming (The Marschallin)
© ROH | Catherine Ashmore
The Royal Opera, 17th December 2016
Aware her teenage lover will inevitably leave her for a younger woman, the Marschallin muses that time trickles like sand through an hourglass, flowing ceaselessly. At night she stops all the clocks, yet accepts time is not to be feared. Everything comes to an end. The trick is knowing when to bow out gracefully. Ultimately, the Marschallin bestows her blessing on Octavian and Sophie and leaves the youngsters to it. Likewise, Renée Fleming has decided the time is right to bow out gracefully from the operatic stage, choosing her signature role to bid the fondest of farewells to London.
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