Strauss R. The Knight of the Rose. Opera in 3 acts. Vocal score

“Der Rosenkavalier” (“The Knight of the Rose”) — opera in three acts by Richard Strauss to a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal was firstly staged in Dresden on January 26, 1911, conducted by E. Schuch. The Russian listeners watched Srauss' masterpiece on November 28, 1928, when it was represented at the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theatre conducted by S. Radlov, produced by S. Radlov and designed by G. Yakunin.

“The Knight of the Rose” meant Strauss' turn to Mozart's manner, i. e. the ability to express such emotions as the joy of life, pleasure of carnal desires, youth and love. The libretto is based on the graceful imitating of the 18th century's gallant style, while the musical depictions are democratized. Strauss intentionally resorts to anachronisms, combining the gallant epoch's melodious sphere (scene of the rose presentation, canzonetta of the Italian singer) with the waltzes peculiar to the 19th and 20th centuries. This opera is about the past composed by the musician of the new age.