Opera North

Perfectly poised between comedy and pathos, Der Rosenkavalier contrasts the impulsive young love of Octavian and Sophie with the Marschallin’s acknowledgement of the passage of time. Although fearful that the 17-year-old Octavian will leave her for a younger woman, it is the Marschallin who orchestrates the first meeting between her lover and the beautiful Sophie – with inevitable consequences. Words and music seem to combine effortlessly, with the luxurious score giving full rein to Strauss’s particular favourite, the soprano voice.

The cast sees the welcome return of some of Opera North’s best-loved performers. Having mesmerised audiences in both the harrowing title role of Jen?fa last year and as Emilia Marty in The Makropulos Case (2012), Swedish soprano Ylva Kihlberg sings the bittersweet part of the Marschallin. She is joined by Helen Sherman as Octavian (Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro (2015); Dorabella, Così fan tutte (2016)) and Fflur Wyn (Giannetta, L’elisir d’amore (2016); Servilia, La Clemenza di Tito (2013)) as Sophie.