The Weight of Entertainment

It has been just over seven years since the Staatsoper gave a final revival to their old production of Der Rosenkavalier, a long absence for such a popular work. In that time they have introduced new productions of three of the six von Hofmannsthal collaborations – Ariadne, Elektra, and Die Frau ohne Schatten – all of which are, in many ways, more interesting works, even if none enjoy quite the same level of public adoration. Yet with great popularity comes great responsibility, a fact which André Heller’s new Rosenkavalier for the Staatsoper seemed unable to forget. It was undoubtedly a production of the highest quality, beautiful to look at and directed with tasteful subtlety; yet despite towering performances from Camilla Nylund and Günther Groissböck, it could never quite dispel its own sense of dutiful entertainment. 

The idea of…