“Der Rosenkavalier offers enormous comic

as well as dramatic possibilities”

Interview with opera director Andrejs Žagars

This is the first time he has directed in Budapest, but he has been here – last October at the Opera Europa Conference, and previously as an 18 year-old tourist when he could travel abroad from the Soviet Union for the first time. Director General of the Latvian National Opera Andrejs Žagars stages Richard Strauss’ opera Der Rosenkavalier at the Hungarian State Opera House; the première will be held on 20 March.

HSO: In what ways will Der Rosenkavalier be different in Budapest compared to what we have been used to?

A.Ž.: At least in two aspects. First, we have removed the plot from its original 18^th century setting, and placed it into the first decade of the 20^th century, the glittering, colourful, decadent and sometimes hypocritical world of Vienna before the First World War. Secondly, apart from singing, acting qualities will also be given a special emphasis. I myself worked as an actor for a long time, and, in my view, this opera offers enormous comic as well as dramatic possibilities.

HSO: Does this mean that you are treating the singers as actors during the rehearsal phase?

A.Ž.: Certainly. I’m working with outstanding Hungarian singers, and I’d like to bring forth the most of them as actors too. In order to achieve this, first they need to be relieved so that they would dare to play comedy or express dramatic situations, and they would dare to transform themselves entirely. Baron Ochs, for instance, is a key figure with a lot to sing, and the artist who sings his role needs to have a perfect sense of proportion so as to be able to present this egotistic, rude admirer in an authentic way. Another challenge is the large number of characters, who sometimes need to be handled as groups and moved around the stage in a way that some structure is maintained in the cavalcade, and the figures should complement one another harmoniously.

HSO: What will the set be like?

A.Ž.: Let it be a surprise, because it will be really special; what I can tell you is that it will recall the atmosphere of Vienna at the turn of the century, that is the art nouveau, and the original style of the piece at the same time.

HSO: What makes Der Rosenkavalier valid today?

A.Ž.: This opera is not the most characteristic composition of Richard Strauss, but it is still an unbelievably many-sided masterpiece. Despite being basically a comedy, it still reveals a lot about human frailty, the sometimes miserable contrast between dreams, desires and reality, about self-deception, the passing of youth and the insincerity of the society. This message is very much valid today, but I hope that this will not be the only feature that attracts the audience. We would like to offer them a colourful, bustling and grand theatrical experience, which brings a new surprise every minute and fascinates the viewer.